defense

American  

[dih-fens, dee-fens] / dɪˈfɛns, ˈdi fɛns /

noun

1. resistance against attack; protection.

   Two more regiments are needed for the defense of the city.

   Synonyms:

   safeguard, security

2. something that guards against harm, such as a fortification, physical or mental quality, or medication.

   This fort was once the main defense of the island.

3. the support of a cause or the like by speech, argument, etc..

   He spoke in defense of the nation's foreign policy.

   Synonyms:

   justification, advocacy, support

4. a speech, argument, etc., in vindication.

   She delivered a defense of free enterprise.

5. Law.

   1. the denial or pleading of the defendant in answer to the claim or charge that has been made.

   2. the proceedings adopted by a defendant or the defendant's legal agents, for defending against the charges that have been made.

   3. a defendant and their counsel.

6. Psychology. defense mechanism.

7. Sports.

   1. the practice or art of shielding oneself or one's goal from attack, as in fencing, boxing, soccer, or football.

   2. the team attempting to thwart the attack of the team having the ball or puck.

   3. the players of a team who line up in their own defensive zone.

   4. the positions on the field, ice, etc., taken by such players.

8. Also called Defense Department.  (initial capital letter) the Department of Defense.

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verb (used with object)

defensed, defensing

1. Sports. to defend against (an opponent, play, or tactic).

Other Word Forms

• defenseless adjective
• defenselessly adverb
• defenselessness noun
• nondefense noun
• predefense noun
• undefensed adjective

Etymology

Origin of defense

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English from Old French from Late Latin dēfēnsa “a forbidding,” noun use of feminine of past participle of Latin dēfendere “to defend ”; replacing Middle English defens, from Anglo-French, Old French, from Medieval Latin defēnsum “(thing) forbidden,” neuter past participle of Latin dēfendere

Example Sentences

In defense of those surprised by the show’s popularity, it’s not as if it looks like an easy sell.

From Salon

Half to three-quarters of global spam and phishing are now AI-generated, says Brian Singer, a Ph.D. candidate at Carnegie Mellon University who researches the use of large language models for cyberattacks and defenses.

From The Wall Street Journal

Sanctions are largely symbolic, with little expected impact on U.S. defense stocks, as most do minimal business with China.

From Barron's

Sanctions are largely symbolic, with little expected impact on U.S. defense stocks, as most do minimal business with China.

From Barron's

The federal government’s interest payments on its debt now exceed its defense spending.

From Barron's