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defense

[ dih-fens or, especially for 7, 9, dee-fens ]
/ dɪˈfɛns or, especially for 7, 9, ˈdi fɛns /
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noun
verb (used with object), de·fensed, de·fens·ing.
Sports. to defend against (an opponent, play, or tactic).
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Also British, defence .

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

OTHER WORDS FROM defense

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use defense in a sentence

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