Defense

Pronunciation

• RP IPA: /dɪˈfÉ›ns/
• US IPA: /diˈfÉ›ns/
• (sports) US IPA: /ˈdi fÉ›ns/
• Rhymes: -É›ns

Alternative forms

• defence (British)

Origin

From the French défense, itself from Latin defensa, "protection".

Full definition of defense

Noun

1. The action of defending or protecting from attack, danger, or injury.
2. Anything employed to oppose attack(s).
1. (team sports) A strategy and tactics employed to prevent the other team from scoring; contrasted with offense.
2. (team sports) The portion of a team dedicated to preventing the other team from scoring; contrasted with offense.
3. An argument in support or justification of something.
4. Government policy or structure related to the military.It was the Department of Defense.

Synonyms

Antonyms

• offense

Derived terms

• antidefense
• ecodefense
• Nuremberg defense
• defensive
• defensiveness