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defense

/dɪˈfɛns/noun2 syllables

Defense means: (psychiatry) an unconscious process that tries to reduce the anxiety associated with instinctive desires.

Synonyms for defense27

noun, as in (psychiatry) an unconscious process that tries to reduce the anxiety associated with instinctive desires

defense mechanism, defense reaction, defence mechanism, defence reaction, defence

noun, as in the federal department responsible for safeguarding national security of the United States; created in 1947

Department of Defense, Defense Department, United States Department of Defense, DoD

noun, as in the defendant and their legal advisors collectively

defence, defense team, defense lawyers

noun, as in an organization of defenders that provides resistance against attack

defence, defense force, defence force

noun, as in a defendant's answer or plea denying the truth of the charges against them

defence, denial, demurrer

noun, as in (military) military action or resources protecting a country against potential enemies

defence, defensive measure

noun, as in (sports) the team that is trying to prevent the other team from scoring

defence, defending team

noun, as in the justification for some act or belief

defence, vindication

noun, as in the speech act of answering an attack on your assertions

refutation, defence

noun, as in a structure used to defend against attack

defensive structure, defence

noun, as in protection from harm

noun, as in the act of defending someone or something against attack or injury

also used for defense

Includes material from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Opposites of defense

What does defense mean?12

noun

1

(psychiatry) an unconscious process that tries to reduce the anxiety associated with instinctive desires

2

the federal department responsible for safeguarding national security of the United States; created in 1947

3

the defendant and their legal advisors collectively“the defense called for a mistrial”

4

an organization of defenders that provides resistance against attack“he joined the defense against invasion”

5

a defendant's answer or plea denying the truth of the charges against them“he gave evidence for the defense”

6

(military) military action or resources protecting a country against potential enemies“they died in the defense of Stalingrad”

7

(sports) the team that is trying to prevent the other team from scoring“his teams are always good on defense”

8

the justification for some act or belief“he offered a persuasive defense of the theory”

9

the speech act of answering an attack on your assertions“his refutation of the charges was short and persuasive”

10

a structure used to defend against attack“the artillery battered down the defenses”

11

protection from harm“sanitation is the best defense against disease”

12

the act of defending someone or something against attack or injury“a good boxer needs a good defense”

Definitions from the Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

What rhymes with defense?18

one syllable

Show 40 near rhymes

Defense in a sentence

  • Vaccines mimic an infection, which causes the body's immune system to mount a defense.mccarras
  • We judge others' mistakes as prosecutors, yet our own as defense attorneys.Nylez
  • Chess, allegory of a war, is a game of attack and defense.carlosalberto
  • In chess, harmonious coordination of attack and defense forces is of utmost importance.carlosalberto
  • As an allegory of war, chess is a game of attack and defense.carlosalberto
  • Both sexes defend the nesting site, although most defense is done by the male.CM
  • The laser has since revolutionized the fields of defense, telecommunications, medicine and consumer electronics.Cangarejo
  • Pursuant to this law, no one is allowed to kill, except in self-defense.mailohilohi

Sentences from Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR, credited to their authors.

Forms of defense

as a noun

plural
defenses