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

on the defense, play defense, defense mechanism

in defense of, line of defense, self-defense

Formal and Informal Expressions of defense

In different contexts, you can replace 'defense' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'protection, safeguarding' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'guard, cover' is a commonplace synonym.

defense: Explore its Definition & Usage

defense Definition

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

Using defense: Examples

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

Example
The country's defense system is one of the strongest in the world.
Example
The lawyer presented a strong defense for his client.
Example
The team's defense was able to stop the opposing team from scoring.
Example
The company's defense against the allegations was weak.

defense Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for defense

Antonyms for defense

Idioms Using defense

on the defense
in a position of having to defend oneself or one's actions
Example
The politician was on the defense during the debate, constantly having to explain his policies.
play defense
to take measures to protect oneself or something from harm or danger
Example
The company decided to play defense and implement stricter security measures after a data breach.
defense mechanism
an unconscious psychological mechanism used to protect oneself from anxiety or emotional pain
Example
Her constant joking was a defense mechanism to hide her insecurities.

Phrases with defense

in defense of
as a justification or explanation for something
Example
He spoke in defense of his actions during the meeting.
line of defense
a series of measures or actions taken to protect against something
Example
The company has multiple lines of defense against cyber attacks.
self-defense
the act of protecting oneself from harm or danger
Example
She took self-defense classes to feel more confident walking alone at night.

Origins of defense

from Old French 'defens', from Latin 'defensus', past participle of 'defendere', meaning 'ward off, protect'

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Summary: defense in Brief

The term 'defense' [dɪˈfɛns] refers to the act of protecting from or resisting attack, as well as the case presented by the accused party in a lawsuit. It can be exemplified by 'The country's defense system is one of the strongest in the world.' 'Defense' extends into phrases like 'line of defense,' and idioms like 'play defense,' denoting protective measures, and 'defense mechanism,' referring to unconscious psychological mechanisms.