defence

di-FENS/dɪˈfɛns/

Pluraldefences

US spellingdefense

9 meanings of defence

Practice

1
fighting off attacknouncountable or uncountable
Protecting someone or something from attack, danger or harm.
A mother bird will attack a cat in defence of her chicks.
The army is in charge of the defence of the country.
UsageOften used as in defence of something: in defence of her chicks.
2
noununcountable
The plans and systems a government has for its army, navy and air force.
The country spends a lot of money on defence.
The new defence secretary visited soldiers serving abroad.
UsageOften before other words: defence spending, defence budget.
3
thing that protectsnouncountable or uncountable
Something you use to stop or fight back against an attack.
The castle walls were a strong defence against the enemy.
Sun cream is a good defence against sunburn.
UsageSay a defence against something: a defence against sunburn.
Note
4
in sportnouncountable or uncountable
The players in a team who try to stop the other team from scoring.
Our defence played well, and the other team did not score.
The new player will make the team's defence much stronger.
UsageOne player in the defence is a defender.
5
justificationnouncountable or uncountable
Reasons you give to support something or to show it was right.
In his defence, he did not know the rules.
The teacher gave a strong defence of the new homework plan.
UsageSay a defence of an idea, or in his defence to give one good point about him.
6
accused's lawyersnounlaw
In a trial, the lawyers who speak for the person accused, and sometimes that person too.
The defence asked the witness a lot of hard questions.
The defence told the court that their client was ill and could not come.
UsageUsually the defence, as in a witness for the defence.
Oppositeprosecution
Note
7
accused's casenouncountablelaw
The reasons and facts a person, or their lawyer, gives in court to answer the claims made against them.
He did not want a lawyer, so he presented his own defence in court.
In court, her defence was simple: she was at work when the car was stolen.
UsageIn court, people often say a defence to a charge, where others say against.
Similarcase
Note

Less common meanings

8
nounobsolete
The act of forbidding something, or a rule or order that says people must not do it.
9
verbobsolete
To make a place strong and safe against attack.
Better manned and more strongly defenced.
1656, John Hales, Dixi Custodiam

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of defence apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

It comes, through French, from a Late Latin word meaning “protection”.

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 1 fact

Defence comes through French from a Late Latin word meaning protection. en.wiktionary.org