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

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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

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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

There are currently three bills that are now more likely to pass Congress as soon as next month through an annual defense package, analysts said.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 13, 2026

Tehran is expanding its targets and making the jump to attacks that inflict real-world harm, according to cyber officials and defense experts.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 13, 2026

They’re “the only defense lawyers in town who didn’t roll over for the cops,” which you might imagine would make them very popular, but you would be wrong.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 12, 2026

Pete Hegseth on Thursday awarded a medal to a US soldier who reprimanded the defense chief and his entourage for laughing and talking near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier the day before.

From Barron's ● Nov. 12, 2026

Of course, in his defense, Kathy didn’t think that her moshom had been in quite the same situation she had found herself in.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

One new strategy for safeguarding hardware focuses on embedding defenses directly into devices via microchips, rather than relying solely on software or network firewalls.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 13, 2026

Beyond reducing the immediate effects of an infection, vaccines may also help prevent persistent changes that weaken immune defenses.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 13, 2026

The speed limit effectively disables some of Ukraine’s air defenses against jet-powered Russian drones that are pounding Ukrainian cities, and risks paralyzing Ukraine’s crucial midrange drone campaign against the invading Russian army’s logistics.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 12, 2026

Wolfson is preparing for all kinds of strategy scenarios, from full-court presses to teams relying on threes to trapping defenses.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 11, 2026

They spoke for some time, and Mrs. Coulter was impressed by their accurate knowledge of the Church’s defenses, and their clear assessment of its leaders’ strengths.

From "The Amber Spyglass" by Philip Pullman

Over his career, he has 253 tackles and 17 passes defensed.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 27, 2025

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

Sneed had two interceptions and 14 passes defensed in 16 games last season, giving him 10 interceptions and 40 passes defensed in his four-year career.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 22, 2024

Kendricks had 117 tackles, seven tackles for loss, 3 1/2 sacks and six passes defensed last season for the Chargers.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 13, 2024

You know how it is said to Jeremiah, "Behold, I have made thee this day a defensed city, and an iron pillar, and brazen walls, against the whole land."

From Lectures on Architecture and Painting Delivered at Edinburgh in November 1853 by John Ruskin

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

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Related Words

• armor
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