defense defense /dɪˈfɛns/

noun

1. () [American] (military) military action or resources protecting a country against potential enemies  ( defence [Canadian, British] , defensive measure , defense [American] )
   (military) military action or resources protecting a country against potential enemies
    They died in the defense of Stalingrad
   they died in the defense of Stalingrad
    They were developed for the defense program
   they were developed for the defense program
   
2. () [American] Protection from harm  ( defence [Canadian, British] , defense [American] )
   protection from harm
    Sanitation is the best defense against disease
   sanitation is the best defense against disease
   
3. () [American] The justification for some act or belief  ( defence [Canadian, British] , vindication , defense [American] )
   the justification for some act or belief
    He offered a persuasive defense of the theory
   he offered a persuasive defense of the theory
   
4. () [American] (sport) the team that is trying to prevent the other team from scoring  ( defence [Canadian, British] , defending team , defense [American] )
   (sport) the team that is trying to prevent the other team from scoring
    His teams are always good on defense
   his teams are always good on defense
   
5. () [American] The speech act of answering an attack on your assertions  ( defence [Canadian, British] , refutation , defense [American] )
   the speech act of answering an attack on your assertions
    His refutation of the charges was short and persuasive
   his refutation of the charges was short and persuasive
    In defense he said the other man started it
   in defense he said the other man started it
   
6. () [American] The defendant and his legal advisors collectively  ( defence [Canadian, British] , defense lawyers [American] , defense team [American] , defense [American] , defence lawyers [Canadian, British] , defence team [Canadian, British] )
   the defendant and his legal advisors collectively
    The defense called for a mistrial
   the defense called for a mistrial
   
7. () [American] (psychiatry) an unconscious process that tries to reduce the anxiety associated with instinctive desires  ( defence [Canadian, British] , defence mechanism [Canadian, British] , defence reaction [Canadian, British] , defense [American] , defense mechanism [American] , defense reaction [American] )
   (psychiatry) an unconscious process that tries to reduce the anxiety associated with instinctive desires
   
8. The act of defending someone or something against attack or injury  ( defence [Canadian, British] , defense )
   the act of defending someone or something against attack or injury
    A good boxer needs a good defense
   a good boxer needs a good defense
    Defense against hurricanes is an urgent problem
   defense against hurricanes is an urgent problem
   
9. [American] (law) a defendant's answer or plea denying the truth of the charges against him  ( defence [Canadian, British] , defense [American] , demurrer , denial )
   (law) a defendant's answer or plea denying the truth of the charges against him
    He gave evidence for the defense
   he gave evidence for the defense
   
10. [American] A structure used to defend against attack  ( defence [Canadian, British] , defense [American] , defensive structure )
    a structure used to defend against attack
     The artillery battered down the defenses
    the artillery battered down the defenses
    
    
11. [American] An organization of defenders that provides resistance against attack  ( defence [Canadian, British] , defence force [Canadian, British] , defense [American] , defense force [American] )
    an organization of defenders that provides resistance against attack
     He joined the defense against invasion
    he joined the defense against invasion
    

 Defense

1. () [American] The federal department responsible for safeguarding national security of the United States; created in 1947  ( Defense Department [American] , DoD , United States Department of Defense , Defense [American] , Department of Defense )
   the federal department responsible for safeguarding national security of the United States; created in 1947
     The Department of Defense is responsible for national security.
   The Department of Defense is responsible for national security.