defense

[dih-fens or especially for 7, 9, dee-fens]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR defense ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

resistance against attack; protection: Two more regiments are needed for the defense of the city.

something that defends, as a fortification, physical or mental quality, or medication: This fort was once the main defense of the island.

the defending of a cause or the like by speech, argument, etc.: He spoke in defense of the nation's foreign policy.

a speech, argument, etc., in vindication: She delivered a defense of free enterprise.

Law.

the denial or pleading of the defendant in answer to the claim or charge that has been made.
the proceedings adopted by a defendant, or the defendant's legal agents, for defending against the charges that have been made.
a defendant and his or her counsel.

Psychology. defense mechanism(def 2).

Sports.

the practice or art of defending oneself or one's goal against attack, as in fencing, boxing, soccer, or football.
the team attempting to thwart the attack of the team having the ball or puck.
the players of a team who line up in their own defensive zone.
the positions on the field, ice, etc., taken by such players.

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

verb (used with object), de·fensed, de·fens·ing.

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

Nearby words

Also especially British, defence.

Origin of defense

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

SYNONYMS FOR defense

1. security, preservation, safeguard. 3. support, advocacy, justification.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR defense ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

de·fense·less, adjectivede·fense·less·ly, adverbde·fense·less·ness, nounnon·de·fense, noun, adjective

pre·de·fense, nounun·de·fensed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for defenseless

I understand why you were so moved that you left your secure, comfortable lives to defend the defenseless in a far off land.
An Ex-Radical's Open Letter to ISIS Fighters: Quit Now While You Can!|Maajid Nawaz|September 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Heinous acts, especially when perpetrated on defenseless minors, elicit equally heinous responses even in sane minds.
The Revenge of Donna’s Diner|Mansfield Frazier|May 11, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Twenty defenseless children were gunned down by a sick individual.
In Between Mass Shootings, the Media Have Been MIA on Guns|Howard Kurtz|December 17, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The U.N. agenda, she said, is “to disarm people,” implying it would leave the defenseless even more so.
The National Rifle Association’s Bizarre Colorado Response|James Warren|July 22, 2012|DAILY BEAST

Their ability to launch a surprise strike renders us defenseless.
Sharks Are Scary But Not That Dangerous|Juliet Eilperin|June 16, 2011|DAILY BEAST
They did succeed in killing a large number of defenseless men and women, but this was the only result of these attacks.
World's War Events, Volume III|Various
The massacre at Jotapata was bad enough, but the slaughter of defenseless men, on the lake, is worse.
For the Temple|G. A. Henty
Mother felt that in our present defenseless condition she should not refuse any offers of aid, and thanked him.
Life in the Confederate Army|Arthur Peronneau Ford
“Not too busy to try and defeat the scoundrels who are plotting against a defenseless girl,” he cried.
The Bartlett Mystery|Louis Tracy
Why does "the subdelegate cause only the defenseless and the unprotected to be drafted?"
The Origins of Contemporary France, Volume 1 (of 6)|Hippolyte A. Taine

Word Origin and History for defenseless

defenseless

adj.

also defenceless, 1520s, from defense + -less. Related: Defenselessly.

defense

c.1300, "forbidding, prohibition," also "action of guarding or protecting," from Old French defense, from Latin defensus, past participle of defendere "ward off, protect" (see defend). But it also arrived (without the final -e) from Old French defens, from Latin defensum "thing protected or forbidden," neuter past participle of defendere.

Defens was assimilated into defense, but not before it inspired the alternative spelling defence, via the same tendency that produced hence (hennis), pence (penies), dunce (Duns). First used 1935 as a euphemism for "national military resources." Defense mechanism in psychology is from 1913.

Medicine definitions for defenseless

defense

[dĭ-fĕns′]

n.

A means or method that helps protect the body or mind, as against disease or anxiety.

Related formsde•fen′sive (-fĕn′sĭv) adj.

defense

noun

verb (used with object), de·fensed, de·fens·ing.

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of defense

Examples from the Web for defenseless

defenseless

defense

defense

n.