defense

¹de·fense

noun \di-ˈfen(t)s; as antonym of “offense,” often ˈdē-ˌ\

Definition of DEFENSE

1

a : the act or action of defending <the defense of our country> <speak out in defense of justice>

b : a defendant's denial, answer, or plea

2

a : capability of resisting attack

b : defensive play or ability <a player known for good defense>

3

a : means or method of defending or protecting oneself, one's team, or another; also : a defensive structure

b : an argument in support or justification

c : the collected facts and method adopted by a defendant to protect and defend against a plaintiff's action

d : a sequence of moves available in chess to the second player in the opening

4

a : a defending party or group (as in a court of law) <the defense rests>

b : a defensive team

5

: the military and industrial aggregate that authorizes and supervises arms production <appropriations for defense> <defense contract>

— de·fense·less \-ləs\ adjective

— de·fense·less·ly adverb

— de·fense·less·ness noun

Examples of DEFENSE

1. They put up a good defense, but the city ultimately fell to the invaders.
2. They mounted a good defense.
3. The city's defenses were not strong enough to keep out the invaders.
4. We need to improve our defenses.
5. the nation's air and ground defenses

Origin of DEFENSE

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin defensa vengeance, from Latin, feminine of defensus, past participle of defendere

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to DEFENSE

Synonyms

aegis (also egis), ammunition, armor, buckler, cover, guard, protection, safeguard, screen, security, shield, wall, ward

Related Words

arm, armament, munitions, weapon, weaponry; fastness, fort, fortress, palisade, stronghold

Near Antonyms

aggression, assault, attack, offense (or offence), offensive

²defense

transitive verb

de·fensedde·fens·ing

Definition of DEFENSE

: to take specific defensive action against (an opposing team or player or an offensive play)

First Known Use of DEFENSE

1950

Other General Sports Terms

kegler, mulligan, rappel, turkey

Rhymes with DEFENSE

expense, horse sense, incense, nonsense, past tense, sequence, sixth sense

de·fense

noun    (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of DEFENSE

: a means or method of protecting the physical or functional integrity of body or mind <ability to concentrate urine may be interpreted as a renal defense of body volume fluid—Jack Metcoff>

Variants of DEFENSE

de·fense or chiefly British de·fence \di-ˈfen(t)s\ (audio pronunciation)