defence

[dɪˈfɛns]

defence Definition

• 1. the action of defending from or resisting attack
• 2. the case presented by or on behalf of the party being accused or sued in a lawsuit

Using defence: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "defence" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

• Example

  The country's defence system is one of the strongest in the world.

• Example

  The lawyer presented a strong defence for his client in court.

• Example

  The team's defence was able to stop the opposing team from scoring.

• Example

  The company's defence against the accusations was weak.

defence Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for defence

• protection
• security
• safeguarding
• guarding
• shielding

Antonyms for defence

• attack
• offense

Idioms Using defence

• in defence of

  to support or justify someone or something that has been criticized or attacked

  Example

  She wrote an article in defence of the company's policies.

• on the defence

  in a situation where one is trying to protect oneself or something from attack or criticism

  Example

  The company is on the defence after the recent scandal.

• defenceless as a baby

  completely vulnerable and unable to protect oneself

  Example

  Without her phone, she felt defenceless as a baby in the big city.

Phrases with defence

• defence mechanism

  an unconscious psychological mechanism that reduces anxiety arising from unacceptable or potentially harmful stimuli

  Example

  Her constant joking is a defence mechanism to cover up her insecurities.

• line of defence

  a series of measures or actions taken to prevent something from happening or to protect against something

  Example

  The first line of defence against cyber attacks is having a strong password.

• self-defence

  the use of force to protect oneself or others from harm

  Example

  He claimed that he acted in self-defence when he punched the attacker.

Origins of defence

from Old French 'defens', from Latin 'defensus', past participle of 'defendere', meaning 'to defend'

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Summary: defence in Brief

The term 'defence' [dɪˈfɛns] refers to the act of protecting oneself or others from harm, or the argument presented by the accused in a lawsuit. It can be seen in contexts such as national security or sports, as in 'The country's defence system is one of the strongest in the world.' 'Defence' also extends into phrases like 'line of defence,' and idioms like 'in defence of,' denoting support or justification, and 'on the defence,' implying a situation of protection.