defense
[noun]
Synonyms: aegis, armament, armor, guard, protection, safeguard, security, shield, ward, apology, apologetic, apologia, justification

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Antonyms: attack
Contrasted words: aggression, offense, offensive, censure, condemnation, criticism, decrial, reprehension, reprobation, reproof, assault, attack, onset, onslaught
Related Words: arms, munitions, weaponry, weapons, fastness, fort, fortress, stronghold, answer, rejoinder, reply, response, retort, return, exculpation, excuse, explanation, rationalization

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. de‧fence S2 W1 British English, defense American English /dɪˈfens/ noun
[Word Family: noun: DEFENCE/DEFENSE, defendant, defender, defensiveness; adjective: DEFENCELESS/DEFENSELESS, defensible ≠ indefensible, defensive; adverb: defensibly ≠ indefensibly, defensively; verb: defend]

1. PROTECTION
a) [uncountable] the act of protecting something or someone from attack
defence of
In Britain, the defence of the country has historically been left to the navy.
a firm commitment to the defense of human rights
The first line of defence is a smoke detector.
b) [countable] something that can be used to protect something or someone from attack:
The area’s flood defences need repair.
defence against
The immune system is the body’s defence against infection. ⇒ self-defence

2. MILITARY
a) [uncountable] all the systems, people, materials etc that a country uses to protect itself from attack:
calls for a national debate on defence
the Defense Department
b) defences British English, defenses American English [plural] all the armies, weapons, structures etc that are available to defend a place:
The invading army easily overcame the town’s defences.

3. AGAINST CRITICISM [uncountable and countable] something that you say or do in order to support someone or something that is being criticized
in sb’s/sth’s defence
Jean wrote a letter to the paper in Angela’s defense.
defence of
a philosophical defence of nationalism
come/leap to sb’s defence
Evelyn Waugh came to Wilson’s defence and acknowledged the brilliance of the book’s themes.

4. IN A LAW COURT
a) [countable] the things that are said in a court of law to prove that someone is not guilty of a crime:
Major has a good defence and believes he will win the case.
a defence lawyer
b) the defence all the lawyers who try to prove in a court of law that someone is not guilty of a crime:
The defense called only one witness. ⇒ prosecution(2)

5. EMOTIONS [countable] something you do or a way of behaving that prevents you from seeming weak or being hurt by others:
Liz dropped her defences and began to relax.

6. SPORT [countable] British English the players in a game whose main job is to try to prevent the other team from getting points Antonym : offense

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. de‧fense¹ /dɪˈfens/ noun [countable, uncountable]
the American spelling of defence

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

III. de‧fense² /dɪˈfens $ ˈdiːfens/ noun [uncountable and countable] American English
the players in a game of football etc whose main job is to try to prevent the other team from getting points

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

defense

a defence force (=group of soldiers, pilots etc trained to defend a country)
The country's defence forces are on standby in case of an attack.
a defence system (=a system of people, organizations etc to defend a country)
Is the national defence system adequate?
a defence policy
Ministers in Brussels have been discussing a possible European defence policy.
defence spending/expenditure
There were plans to cut defence spending by one billion pounds.
the defence budget (=amount of money a government makes available for defence)
They have called for the defence budget to be increased.
the Defence Department (=part of the government dealing with defence)
This is secret information, known only to the Defence Department.
the Defence Secretary (=person in a government in charge of defence)
The Defence Secretary is under pressure to resign.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

defense
dɪˈfens
See: zone defense

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲