defense
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defense¹
- /dɪˈfɛns/ UK, US
- /ˈdiːˌfɛns/ US, often
Rhymes with -ɛns
Where it comes from
From Middle English defens, defense, from Old French defens, defense, from Late Latin dēfēnsa (“protection”). Displaced native Old English bewering. The verb is from the noun.
noun defenses · defence
- The action of defending or protecting from attack, danger, or injury.
- A strategy and tactics employed to prevent the other team from scoring; contrasted with offense.
- The portion of a team dedicated to preventing the other team from scoring; contrasted with offense.
- An argument in support or justification of something. to come to someone's defense
- The case presented by the defendant in a legal proceeding.
- The lawyer or team thereof who presents such a case.
- Government policy or (infra)structure related to the military. Department of Defense
- A prohibition; a prohibitory ordinance.
Similar: defence, defense, fortification, guard, preservation, protection, safeguard, shield, ward · Opposite: offense, prosecution, attack
verb defenses · defensing · defensed · defence
- To employ defensive tactics (so as to block). In fact, there is an increase in the effectiveness of the Five Cutter Offense when teams put pressure on, instead of sagging or switching in an attempt to defense the attack successfully.
defense²
- /dɪˈfɛns/ UK, US
- /ˈdiːˌfɛns/ US, often
Rhymes with -ɛns
Where it comes from
From Middle English defencen, defensen, from Old French defenser or its etymon, Latin dēfēnsō.
verb defenses · defensing · defensed · defence
- To furnish with defenses; to defend, protect. In the ſyege of greate cities, takyng a bygge compaſſe rounde abowte, we muſt wyth all laboure: make and intercut not farre of the citie, bꝛode and depe trenches defenſed wyth turrettes of woodde, […]
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: defence, defence mechanism, vindication, demurrer, defense mechanism, refutation, denial, dod, defence reaction, defending team, defense department, defense lawyers, defense reaction, defense team, defensive measure, defensive structure
noun
Similar: defence, defense, fortification, guard, preservation, protection, safeguard, shield, ward · Opposite: offense, prosecution, attack
Translations
Every language
noun anything employed to oppose attack
| Español | defensa |
|---|---|
| 中文 | 防禦物 /防御物 fángyùwù |
| Português | defesa, escudo |
| Français | défense |
| Deutsch | Verteidigung |
| Italiano | difesa |
| Ελληνικά | άμυνα ámyna |
| Română | apărare |
| Русский | защи́та zaščíta, оборо́на oboróna, оборони́тельные сооруже́ния oboronítelʹnyje sooružénija |
| Tiếng Việt | phòng thủ, phòng ngự, phòng vệ |
| עברית | הגנה hagana |
noun argument in support or justification of something
| Español | descargo |
|---|---|
| Português | defesa |
| Italiano | difesa |
| Română | apărare |
| Русский | защи́та zaščíta |
| Tiếng Việt | phản biện |
noun action of protecting from attack
| Español | defensa |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 방어 bang'eo |
| 日本語 | 防御 bōgyo, 防禦 bōgyo |
| 中文 | 防禦 /防御 fángyù |
| हिन्दी | बचाव bacāv, रक्षा rakṣā |
| Português | defesa |
| Français | défense |
| Deutsch | Verteidigung, Wehr |
| Italiano | difesa |
| Ελληνικά | άμυνα ámyna |
| Română | apărare |
| Русский | оборо́на oboróna, защи́та zaščíta |
| Tiếng Việt | phòng thủ, phòng ngự, phòng vệ, bảo vệ |
| العربية | دِفَاع difāʕ, حِمَايَة ḥimāya, مُحَافَظَة muḥāfaẓa, مُدَافَعَة mudāfaʕa |
| עברית | הֲגָנָה \ הֲגַנָּה hagana |
noun team sports: strategy and tactics
| Português | retranca |
|---|---|
| Română | apărare |
| Tiếng Việt | phòng thủ, phòng ngự, phòng vệ |
Talk about this word "defense." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/defense. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. defense. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/defense "defense." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/defense.Cite this
@misc{defense_2026,
title = {defense},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/defense},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
