Advertisement
Advertisement
defence
[ dih-fens ]
defence
/ dɪˈfɛns /
noun
- resistance against danger, attack, or harm; protection
- a person or thing that provides such resistance
- a plea, essay, speech, etc, in support of something; vindication; justification
- a country's military measures or resources
- ( as modifier )
defence spending
- law a defendant's denial of the truth of the allegations or charge against him
- law the defendant and his legal advisers collectively Compare prosecution
- sport
- the action of protecting oneself, one's goal, or one's allotted part of the playing area against an opponent's attacks
- the method of doing this
- the players in a team whose function is to do this
- American football usually preceded by the
- the team that does not have possession of the ball
- the members of a team that play in such circumstances
- psychoanal See defence mechanism
- plural fortifications
Derived Forms
- deˈfencelessly, adverb
- deˈfenceless, adjective
- deˈfencelessness, noun
Other Words From
- de·fencea·ble adjective
- de·fenceless adjective
- de·fenceless·ly adverb
- de·fenceless·ness noun
- prede·fence noun
Word History and Origins
Origin of defence1
Compare Meanings
How does defence compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Example Sentences
On the one hand, it has a time-tested relationship with Russia, hinged on defence and bilateral trade deals, and on the other, it needs allies and trade partners like the US to counterbalance China’s growing influence in the region.
The Australian Department of Defence did not name the model of e-bike used, nor give a decibel read for the engine.
That statue — with its inscribed tribute to Confederate soldiers “who, in defence of rights they believed sacred, took up arms against the invaders of Virginia” — gave him a chill every time he passed it.
He headed Chatham House’s Asia Pacific Program and the University of Sydney’s China Studies Center, and has spoken to the House of Lords International Relations and Defence Committee about the UK’s approach to China.
Dennis recorded a single with John Lennon to raise money for a legal defence fund.
In Estonia, Prince Harry will thank the Estonian Defence Forces for their support of British troops in Afghanistan.
Well, the defence team of Britain's most famous publicist Max Clifford came out - swinging?
Similar attacks then followed against the Latvian Ministry of Defence and Defence Forces sites.
Hats off the Guardian, Britain's most thoughtful left-wing newspaper, for running a piece today in defence of Prince Charles.
During this defence, the Empress frequently shook her head; and when it was finished, she rose from her chair.
She possessed also a great and philosophic mind, and wrote an able defence of Locke.
This of course must be laid to the credit of the local supporters of "the noble art of self-defence," the Brummagem bruisers.
No more admirable illustration can be found of the truth that the essence of defence lies in a vigorous local offence.
The Turks fired a mine under Quinn's Post and then rushed a section of the defence isolated by the explosion.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Browse