defense

American  

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

noun

• defenses
  plural

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

Derived Forms

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

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• defenses
  plural

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

Explanation

Defense has to do with protecting something or fighting against an opponent, whether it's national defense, a football team's defense, or a defense lawyer. Defense is the opposite of offense. It has to do with defending against all sorts of things: In the military, defense is about protecting a country from attack. In sports, defense is supposed to stop the other team from scoring. A defense attorney tries to prove his client is innocent. A defense can even be an excuse for doing something, as in "In my own defense, I was sleepwalking at the time."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

defense defenses defensed defensing

Carney has pledged to meet NATO’s new target of spending 5% of gross domestic product on defense by 2035, which he estimates could amount to $150 billion annually.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026

Notre Dame has not faced a team this season the caliber of Chaminade, which can run, pass and play good defense.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 30, 2026

Google said Argon excels at complex tasks in software engineering, legal and financial work and cyber defense, with a leading ability to find and fix critical software flaws.

From Barron's ● Sep. 30, 2026

“This award represents a near-complete reversal of Boeing’s defense trajectory,” aerospace and defense analysts at RBC Capital Markets, led by Ken Herbert, wrote in a Tuesday note.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 30, 2026

“Squid have two lines of defense: squirting ink and escaping quickly. They need a lot of oxygen to move away from predators. Maybe they have three hearts to keep up the oxygen supply.”

From "The Line Tender" by Kate Allen

On Thursday, Saudi Arabia said its defenses intercepted six ballistic missiles fired by the Houthis towards Taif, a manufacturing center, and Yanbu, a port on the Red Sea.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 27, 2026

“Great defenses find a way to get off the field on third and fourth down,” Brown said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 24, 2026

"In addition, CS18 increased the activity of genes that stop uncontrolled cancer growth. Altogether, CS18 appears to reduce several of the defenses that help cancer cells survive therapy."

From Science Daily ● Sep. 23, 2026

Down the road in the forest, two Canadian Leopard tanks were parked at an intersection, without any of the netting and drone defenses that have become indispensable in the war between Russia and Ukraine.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026

And to get to your goal—the king—you had to remove the defenses first.

From "Aru Shah and the End of Time" by Roshani Chokshi

This is his sixth season, all with the Chargers, and for his career has five interceptions and 21 passes defensed.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2025

Gilman started all five games for the Chargers this season with 22 tackles and three passes defensed.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2025

In six seasons, Oliver has three interceptions, 36 passes defensed, two sacks, nine quarterback hits and two fumble recoveries.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 11, 2024

The two rookies played well enough to keep the Rams out of the end zone all day, as Johnson got his first career interception and Valentine had three passes defensed.

From Washington Times ● Nov. 10, 2023

Then I may think myself to be Well recompensed, For wearing of the tree that is So well defensed Against all weather that doth fall When wayward winter spits his gall.

From A History of Elizabethan Literature by George Saintsbury

It's also impossible not to look at the fact we could of and should have done a better job of defensing it.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 8, 2011