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defense Definition

de·fense (dē fens′, di-; also, and for n.6 usually, dē′fens′)

noun

  1. the act or power of defending, or guarding against attack, harm, or danger
  2. the fact or state of being defended
    1. something that defends; means of or resources for protection
    2. a plan or system for defending
  4. justification or support by speech or writing; vindication
  5. self-protection, as by boxing
  6. Sports
    1. a team when it is attempting to prevent scoring by an opponent in any contest
    2. the ability to prevent an opposing team from scoring
    3. the strategy, plays, etc. used to prevent an opposing team from scoring
    1. the arguments in behalf of the defendant in a law case
    2. ☆ the defendant and his or her lawyer or lawyers, collectively

Etymology: ME < OFr < LL defensa < fem. of L defensus, pp. of defendere

transitive verb -·fensed′, -·fens′·ing

Informal to plan or execute a defense against (esp. an offensive maneuver) in a game or sport

defense Idioms

on defense

Sports engaged in an attempt to prevent an opposing team from scoring

defense Synonyms

defense

n.

  1. An act or means of defending

    resistance, protection, safeguard, aegis, preservation, security, custody, guard, shield, barrier, bumper, buffer, stand, front, backing, advocacy, support, maintenance, guardianship, the defensive, precaution, antitoxin, inoculation, excusing, apologizing, explaining, justifying, exoneration, explanation; see also justification.

    Antonyms offense*, retaliation*, aggression. *

  2. A means or system for defending against an enemy

    Means or systems of military defense include: trench, Maginot line, Siegfried line, Hindenburg line, defense in depth, bulwark, palisade, dike, stockade, machine-gun nest, bastille, bastion, fortification, fort, breastworks, chemical and biological warfare, CBW, earthworks, bunker, foxhole, redoubt, barricade, garrison, blockhouse, picket, rampart, fence, wall, embankment, scarp, citadel, fortress, armor, antiaircraft, Antiballistic Missile System, ABM, distant early warning line, DEW, Strategic Defense Initiative, SDI, Star Wars*, camouflage, gas mask, shield, screen, helmet, barbed wire, stronghold, parapet, buttress, moat, fosse, counterattack, counterblow, rolling defense, tank trap, strong point, defense arc;

    Antonyms attack*, siege*, blitzkrieg*. *

  3. In law, the reply of the accused

    denial, plea, pleading, rejoinder, answer, reply, retort, writ of mandamus, right of habeas corpus, alibi, testimony, vindication, surrejoinder, counterclaim, rebuttal, argument, assertion, case; see also declaration 2, proof 1, statement 1.

  4. An apology

    excuse, justification, argument; see explanation 2, justification.

defense Law Definition

n

Collectively, the attorneys representing a defendant and any laypeople assisting them in their efforts, particularly in a criminal trial. In litigation, generally a factual denial or an assertion of facts or law that counters or negates a claim made by the other party. See also self defense.
affirmative defense
A statement of fact in a responsive pleading that, if true, has the effect of canceling or rendering ineffective a claim of the other party. For example, the truth of an allegedly defamatory statement is an affirmative defense.
equitable defense
A defense derived from those historically used in courts of equity, such as mutual mistake.

defense Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • fatherland: The attention of the revolutionary wing was centered on the question of the defense of the capitalist fatherland.
  • USSR: Yet these were the voices of blind men who were exposing the defense of the USSR to the danger of a sudden blow.

Converse of object

  • deploy: We will develop and deploy effective missile defenses to protect America and our allies from sudden attack.
  • penetrate: Nevertheless, the coalition forces are still unable to penetrate the Iraqi defenses.

Adjective modifier

  • ballistic: Take, for example, our approach to ballistic missile defense.
  • Iraqi: All attempts by the British troops to break through the Iraqi defenses from the south along the Al-Arab river have yielded not results.
  • passive: Passive defenses must be tailored to the unique characteristics of the various forms of WMD.
  • vigorous: David Irving in the USA Lipstadt and Penguin mounted a vigorous defense.

Modifies a noun

  • attorney: Instead, trial defense service attorneys help you with problems in these areas.
  • minister: But then, why did the French defense minister say the opposite?
  • strategywelfare: America and the our defense strategywelfare be called the quot on the.
  • secretary: That resides on the defense secretary to obtain dual.
  • lawyer: Defense lawyer is airs on the the richly colored.
  • contractor: The NPA also assassinated two U.S. government defense contractors in September.

Noun used with modifier

  • missile: Missile defenses are a logical adjunct to our traditional policy.
  • homeland: Homeland Defense: DOD Needs to Assess the Structure of U.S. Forces for Domestic Military Missions.
  • theater: Finally, this report does not provide a comprehensive analysis of theater missile defenses in the Asia-Pacific region.
  • air: He said Iraqi air defense units had fired on the planes.
  • perimeter: The commander uses HSS personnel only on perimeter defense of their assigned medical facility.
  • self: They sting in self defense using their tail sting which in most cases is very painful rather than life threatening.