defense

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Pronunciation

• (RP) IPA: /dɪˈfɛns/
• (America) IPA: /dɪˈfɛns/
• (sports) (America, often) IPA: /ˈdiːˌfɛns/

Noun

defense (American spelling)

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.
   1. (law, by extension) The case presented by the defendant in a legal proceeding.
   2. (law, by extension) The lawyer or team thereof who presents such a case.
4. (government, military) Government policy or (infra)structure related to the military.

   Department of Defense

5. (obsolete) A prohibition; a prohibitory ordinance.

   • Severe defenses […] against wearing any linen under a certain breadth.

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:defense

Antonyms

• offense

Translations

• French: défense
• German: Verteidigung, Wehr
• Italian: difesa
• Portuguese: defesa
• Russian: оборо́на
• Spanish: defensa

Translations

• German: Verteidigung
• Portuguese: defesa, escudo
• Russian: защи́та
• Spanish: defensa

Translations

• Italian: difesa
• Portuguese: defesa
• Russian: защи́та
• Spanish: descargo

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