DEFENCE

defense, defence

(noun) the act of defending someone or something against attack or injury; “a good boxer needs a good defense”; “defense against hurricanes is an urgent problem”

defense, defence

(noun) protection from harm; “sanitation is the best defense against disease”

defense, defence, defensive measure

(noun) (military) military action or resources protecting a country against potential enemies; “they died in the defense of Stalingrad”; “they were developed for the defense program”

defense, defence, denial, demurrer

(noun) a defendant’s answer or plea denying the truth of the charges against him; “he gave evidence for the defense”

defense, defence, vindication

(noun) the justification for some act or belief; “he offered a persuasive defense of the theory”

refutation, defense, defence

(noun) the speech act of answering an attack on your assertions; “his refutation of the charges was short and persuasive”; “in defense he said the other man started it”

defense, defence, defense force, defence force

(noun) an organization of defenders that provides resistance against attack; “he joined the defense against invasion”

defense, defence, defense team, defense lawyers

(noun) the defendant and his legal advisors collectively; “the defense called for a mistrial”

defense, defence, defending team

(noun) (sports) the team that is trying to prevent the other team from scoring; “his teams are always good on defense”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

Noun

defence (countable and uncountable, plural defences) (British spelling)

The action of defending, of protecting from attack, danger or injury.

Something used to oppose attacks.

An argument in support or justification of something.

(team sports) A strategy and tactics employed to prevent the other team from scoring; contrasted with offence.

(team sports) The portion of a team dedicated to preventing the other team from scoring; contrasted with offence.

Government policy or (infra)structure related to the military.

(obsolete) Prohibition; a prohibitory ordinance.

Synonyms

• See defence

Antonyms

• offence (Commonwealth), offense (US)

Usage notes

The noun spelling is mainly used in the UK, Australia, Canada, Ireland, and New Zealand, defense is more commonly used in America.

Verb

defence (third-person singular simple present defences, present participle defencing, simple past and past participle defenced)

(obsolete, transitive) To furnish with defences; to fortify.

Source: Wiktionary

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De*fence", n. & v. t.

Definition: See Defense.

De*fense", De*fence", n. Etym: [F. défense, OF. defense, fem., defens, masc., fr. L. defensa (cf. Fence.]

1. The act of defending, or the state of being defended; protection, as from violence or danger. In cases of defense 't is best to weigh The enemy more mighty than he seems. Shak.

2. That which defends or protects; anything employed to oppose attack, ward off violence or danger, or maintain security; a guard; a protection. War would arise in defense of the right. Tennyson. God, the widow's champion and defense. Shak.

3. Protecting plea; vindication; justification. Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defense. Acts xxii. 1.

4. (Law)

Definition: The defendant's answer or plea; an opposing or denial of the truth or validity of the plaintiff's or prosecutor's case; the method of proceeding adopted by the defendant to protect himself against the plaintiff's action.

5. Act or skill in making defense; defensive plan or policy; practice in self defense, as in fencing, boxing, etc. A man of great defense. Spenser. By how much defense is better than no skill. Shak.

6. Prohibition; a prohibitory ordinance. [Obs.] Severe defenses . . . against wearing any linen under a certain breadth. Sir W. Temple.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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