defense
Pluraldefenses
UK spellingdefence
Pluraldefenses
Formsdefenses, defensing, defensed
- 1The act of keeping someone or something safe from attack, danger, or harm.
Like a shield you hold up to keep yourself from getting hurt.
The castle's thick walls were built for defense against invaders.
The soldiers fought hard in defense of their small town.
UsageSay in defense of your town, or defense against an attack.
Similarprotection, resistance, security
Note
- 2In sports, the players whose job is to stop the other team from scoring, or the way they do this.
Our defense stopped every attack in the second half.
He plays defense and rarely gets a chance to shoot the ball.
UsageSay he plays defense. The other side is offense.
Note
- 3Everything a country does to protect itself with its armed forces.
Like the locks, alarms, and guards a country uses to keep itself safe.
The country spends billions on defense each year.
She works for the department of defense.
UsageOften before another word: defense spending, defense budget.
Note
- 4Something that is used to protect against an attack.
The thick stone wall was the village's best defense against enemies.
Your skin is one of your body's first defenses against germs.
UsageSay a defense against something: skin is a defense against germs.
Similarsafeguard, fortification, shield
Note
- 5The reasons and facts given in court for a person who is accused or being sued.
Like the reasons one side gives in a debate to win the point.
In court, his defense was that he was at home all night.
Her defense rested on a solid alibi.
UsageOften after a word saying what kind: an insanity defense.
Oppositeprosecution
Note
- 6Words you use to support or explain why something is right.
Like the good reasons you give to show your choice was right.
He gave a strong defense of his decision to quit.
Her defense of the plan convinced everyone in the room.
UsageSay a defense of your idea, or come to someone's defense.
Similarjustification, vindication, argument
Oppositeattack, criticism, condemnation
- 7The lawyer or lawyers who represent someone accused of a crime or sued in a civil case.
Like the lawyers on one side who stand up for the person on trial.
The defense asked the judge for more time.
The defense questioned the witness for an hour.
UsageSay the defense, the side against the prosecution.
Similarcounsel
Oppositeprosecution
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Less common meanings
- 8To play in a way that stops the other team from scoring.
Like standing in the doorway to stop someone from getting through.
They had to defense the league's top scorer all night.
Our team struggled to defense the fast break.
UsagePast form defensed. Defend is the more usual word.
Note
- 9To protect someone or something, especially a place, by giving it walls or other defenses.
The Country of Britain was in old times adorned with 28 Cities, beſide innumerable number of Caſtles defenſed with ſtrong Walls, Towers, Gates and Locks.
1661, Percie Enderbie, Cambria TriumphansHere, defensed means protected or made strong against attack.Note
- 10An order from an authority that forbids people from doing something.
Note
Showing meanings only.
Practice
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Origins
It came through Old French from a Late Latin word meaning "protection." The verb comes from the noun.
Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
- Defense came through Old French from a Late Latin word meaning protection. en.wiktionary.org
- The verb defense derives from the noun. en.wiktionary.org
It came from Old French, or straight from its source, the Latin word dēfēnsō.
Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 1 fact
- The word ultimately derives from Latin dēfēnsō. en.wiktionary.org