View synonyms for defender

defender

[ dih-fen-der ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a person who defends someone or something from attack, assault, or injury:
We commemorate the brave defenders of this fort.
Law. an attorney for a defendant, especially a public defender:
the systemwide benefits of effective defenders.
a person who supports an argument, theory, thesis, etc., in the face of criticism or challenging questions:
defenders of gay rights.
Sports.
1. a team player whose assigned role is to prevent the other team from scoring:
  On the court, he’s an exceptional defender and a natural leader.
2. a contestant or team that attempts to retain a championship title, rank, etc., in a competition against a challenger:
  Her main rival is the young title defender from Italy.

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First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English; defend ( def ) + -er ²( def )

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And, as any good public defender would, Wolf says the allegations are absurd.

Kadyrov then declared himself to be “the main human rights defender” in Chechnya.

He could be remade into a defender of the environment, a preserver of habitats and champion of rainforest ecology.

A hulking defender breaks into the backfield and takes him down with a vicious clothesline tackle.

And into the fray comes a weapon I never thought would have been legal, let alone humane—something called Knee Defender.

John Cantacuzenus, the historian of his own times, and a defender of the faith, inaugurated emperor of Constantinople.

Maximilian Lamarque, died at Paris; a distinguished French officer, and defender of liberal principles.

They stared rudely at the beautiful traveller who was starting off with so many trunks, and a dog of such size for her defender.

After the trial races and consequent choice of 'Vigilant' as defender, public attention was centred on the coming of 'Valkyrie.'

Tears came to his eyes, and he could have embraced his defender.

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