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defend Definition

de·fend (dē fend′, di-)

transitive verb

    1. to guard from attack; keep from harm or danger; protect
    2. to protect (a goal, etc.) against scoring by an opponent
  2. to support, maintain, or justify defend one's conduct
  3. Law
    1. to oppose (an action)
    2. to plead (one's cause) in defense
    3. to act as lawyer for (an accused)

Etymology: ME defenden < OFr defendre < L defendere, to ward off, repel < de-, away, from + fendere, to strike < IE base *gwhen-, to strike > Gr theinein, to kill, strike, OE guth, combat

intransitive verb

to make a defense

defend Related Forms

de·fend′·able adjective de·fend′er noun

defend Synonyms

defend

v.

  1. To keep off an enemy; often used figuratively

    protect, shield, guard, shelter, screen, resist, beat off, avert, fight for, withstand, cover, retain, hold, repel danger from, ward off, contend for, keep off, stave off, keep at bay, hold at bay, take evasive action, fend off, hedge, entrench, mine, resist invasion, stand on the defensive, provide air cover for; sustain a mortar attack, aerial attack, machine gun attack, etc.; fortify, garrison, convoy, escort, fence round, give an air umbrella; see also sense 2; guard 2.

    Antonyms yield*, surrender*, give up. *

  2. To provide general protection

    safeguard, secure, maintain, uphold, preserve, espouse, champion, insure, patronize, watch, sustain, apologize for, rally to, support, house, keep, second, provide sanctuary, take in, sustain, bolster, nourish, foster, care for, compass about, cherish, guard against, look after; see also sense 1; raise 2, support 5.

    Antonyms abandon*, leave*, forsake. *

  3. To support an accused person or thing

    plead, justify, bear one out, uphold, support, second, exonerate, back, back up, vindicate, advocate, aid, espouse the cause of, befriend, say in defense, be a partisan of, guarantee, endorse, warrant, prove a case, exculpate, maintain, recommend, rationalize, plead one's cause, say a good word for, argue for, speak for, stand up for, plead for, put in a good word for, apologize for, take up, go to bat for*, cover up for*, stick up for*; see also support 2.

    Antonyms convict*, accuse*, charge.

defend Law Definition

v

In litigation, to oppose a claimant’s case; to advance or protect one’s own adverse interests. Also, as an attorney, to represent the defendant in a criminal case or civil proceeding.

defend Usage Examples

Object

  • champion: Defending champion Ron Jones from Wales found himself in a slightly strange situation.
  • liberty: They felt they were defending liberty in the Land of the Free, and would succeed.
  • freedom: In the first essay in this three part work Kant defends the freedom of the philosopher to inquire into matters of religion.
  • proceeding: In 1998 his wife left him, and the client vigorously defended the maintenance proceedings.
  • claim: The carriers defended the claim on a number of grounds.
  • territory: The battles themselves are handled solely by the game once the decision to invade or defend a territory has been taken.

Preposition: on

ground: It might be defended also on religious grounds by the supposition that Gomer was originally a temple prostitute.

Preposition: against

  • attack: Many of the P&S Block ran to behind the Black Block who were more prepared to defend against the attack.
  • missile: The Bloodhounds were a useful antiaircraft missile but could not defend against ballistic missiles.

Modifying Another Word

  • vigorously: In particular he has been vigorously defended by the highly respected American monk, Blessed Seraphim Rose.
  • resolutely: Rangers were striving hard for the third goal that would clinch the trophy but Stoke defended resolutely and with a fair share of luck.
  • successfully: The win also becomes the first successfully defended squash title in the Games ' history.
  • robustly: Roddy Martine ( 60-65 ) robustly defended Tartan Week in New York in a recent letter to Scotland on Sunday.
  • fiercely: The Pre 90 champion once again stalked his prey and tried every possible route around Farrell, who defended fiercely.
  • bravely: During the rebellion of the brothers Asen and Petar in 1185 it bravely defends the attacks toward the Bulgarian capital Tarnovo.

Used with why or when

  • what: Now, however, he has placed himself in the situation of defending what Milo s evi &#263; did.
  • when: For the first time the Sir Allan Walker Trophy was successfully defended when John McGuire took the honors.

Present participle complement

exist: The trade unions must defend existing CLP structures because it is the trade union link itself which is under threat.

Preposition: in

half: Some slack defending especially in the second half allowed the opposition to score, the overall result being 30 points to 12.

Preposition: by

ditch: It is a square tower, surrounded by other buildings and defended by ditches and ramparts.