defense meaning and definition

DEFENSE noun

Definition of defense (noun)

1. (military) military action or resources protecting a country against potential enemies
   • "they died in the defense of Stalingrad"; "they were developed for the defense program"
   • synonyms: defence, defensive measure
2. protection from harm
   • "sanitation is the best defense against disease"
   • synonyms: defence
3. (sports) the team that is trying to prevent the other team from scoring
   • "his teams are always good on defense"
   • synonyms: defence, defending team
   • antonym: offence
4. the justification for some act or belief
   • "he offered a persuasive defense of the theory"
   • synonyms: defence, vindication
5. (psychiatry) an unconscious process that tries to reduce the anxiety associated with instinctive desires
   • synonyms: defence, defence mechanism, defence reaction, defense mechanism, defense reaction
6. the federal department responsible for safeguarding national security of the United States; created in 1947
   • synonyms: Defense Department, Department of Defense, DoD, United States Department of Defense
7. the defendant and his legal advisors collectively
   • "the defense called for a mistrial"
   • synonyms: defence, defense lawyers, defense team
   • antonym: prosecution
8. the speech act of answering an attack on your assertions
   • "his refutation of the charges was short and persuasive"; "in defense he said the other man started it"
   • synonyms: defence, refutation
9. an organization of defenders that provides resistance against attack
   • "he joined the defense against invasion"
   • synonyms: defence, defence force, defense force
10. a structure used to defend against attack
    • "the artillery battered down the defenses"
    • synonyms: defence, defensive structure
11. a defendant's answer or plea denying the truth of the charges against him
    • "he gave evidence for the defense"
    • synonyms: defence, demurrer, denial
    • antonym: criminal prosecution
12. the act of defending someone or something against attack or injury
    • "a good boxer needs a good defense"; "defense against hurricanes is an urgent problem"
    • synonyms: defence