Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
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noun
The action of defending, of protecting from attack, danger or injury.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK, countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Something used to oppose attacks.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK, countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
An argument in support or justification of something.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK, countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A strategy and tactics employed to prevent the other team from scoring; contrasted with offence.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK, countable, uncountable
Qualifier: team sports
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
The portion of a team dedicated to preventing the other team from scoring; contrasted with offence.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK, countable, uncountable
Qualifier: team sports
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Government policy or (infra)structure related to the military.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK, countable, uncountable
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Prohibition; a prohibitory ordinance.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK, countable, obsolete, uncountable
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To furnish with defences; to fortify.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK, obsolete, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
the act of defending someone or something against attack or injury
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: defense
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: protection
noun
protection from harm
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: defense
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: protection
noun
(military) military action or resources protecting a country against potential enemies
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: defense, defensive measure
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: military action, action
Narrower terms: umbrella, air defense, stand, hasty defense, hasty defence, deliberate defense, deliberate defence, biological defense, biological defence, biodefense, biodefence, chemical defense, chemical defence, mining, minelaying, biological warfare defense, biological warfare defence, BW defense, BW defence
noun
a defendant's answer or plea denying the truth of the charges against him
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: defense, denial, demurrer
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: due process, due process of law
Narrower terms: entrapment
noun
a structure used to defend against attack
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: defensive structure, defense
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: structure, construction
Narrower terms: cheval-de-frise, chevaux-de-frise, fortification, munition, fortress, fort, line of defense, line of defence, outwork, stronghold, fastness
noun
the justification for some act or belief
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: defense, vindication
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: justification
Narrower terms: apology, apologia, alibi, excuse, exculpation, self-justification
noun
the speech act of answering an attack on your assertions
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: refutation, defense
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: answer
Narrower terms: confutation, rebuttal
noun
an organization of defenders that provides resistance against attack
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: defense, defense force, defence force
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: organization, organisation
Narrower terms: bastion
noun
the defendant and his legal advisors collectively
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: defense, defense team, defense lawyers
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: collection, aggregation, accumulation, assemblage
noun
(sports) the team that is trying to prevent the other team from scoring
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: defense, defending team
Antonyms: offence
Broader terms: team, squad
noun
(psychiatry) an unconscious process that tries to reduce the anxiety associated with instinctive desires
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: defense mechanism, defense reaction, defence mechanism, defence reaction, defense
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: process, unconscious process, psychoanalytic process
Narrower terms: compensation, conversion, denial, displacement, idealization, idealisation, intellectualization, intellectualisation, isolation, projection, rationalization, rationalisation, reaction formation, regression, repression
History
From Middle English defens, defense, from Old French defens, defense, from Late Latin dēfēnsa (“protection”). Displaced Old English bewering.
From Middle English defencen, defensen, from Old French defenser or its etymon, Latin dēfēnsō.
