English Explanatory Dictionary

defence

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. The action of defending, of protecting from attack, danger or injury.
  2. Something used to oppose attacks.
  3. An argument in support or justification of something.
  4. A strategy and tactics employed to prevent the other team from scoring; contrasted with offence.
  5. The portion of a team dedicated to preventing the other team from scoring; contrasted with offence.
  6. Government policy or (infra)structure related to the military.
  7. Prohibition; a prohibitory ordinance.
verb
  1. To furnish with defences; to fortify.

Pronunciation

/dɪˈfɛns/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-defence.wav

Word forms

defence defences defense defencing defenced

Etymology

From Middle English defens, defense, from Old French defens, defense, from Late Latin dēfēnsa (“protection”). Displaced Old English bewering.

Antonyms

offence offense

Derived words

antidefence antidefense attack is the best form of defence biodefence civil defence defence accord defence diplomacy defence force defence in depth defence lawyer defenceless defenseless defenceman defence mechanism defense mechanism defence-splitting defensive defensiveness eco-defence ecodefence ecodefense goal defence home defence millionaire's defence Nuremberg defence Nuremberg defense Pac-Man defence personal defence weapon point defence Portsmouth defence preemptive self-defence rush defence self-defence space defence special defence spring to somebody's defence the best defence is attack tower defence Twinkie defence wing defence
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