1. (noun) defense, defence, defensive measure
(military) military action or resources protecting a country against potential enemies
"they died in the defense of Stalingrad"; "they were developed for the defense program"
2. (noun) defense, defence
protection from harm
"sanitation is the best defense against disease"
3. (noun) defense, defence, defending team
(sports) the team that is trying to prevent the other team from scoring
"his teams are always good on defense"
4. (noun) defense, defence, vindication
the justification for some act or belief
"he offered a persuasive defense of the theory"
5. (noun) defense mechanism, defense reaction, defence mechanism, defence reaction, defense, defence
(psychiatry) an unconscious process that tries to reduce the anxiety associated with instinctive desires
6. (noun) Department of Defense, Defense Department, United States Department of Defense, Defense, DoD
the federal department responsible for safeguarding national security of the United States; created in 1947
7. (noun) defense, defence, defense team, defense lawyers
the defendant and his legal advisors collectively
"the defense called for a mistrial"
8. (noun) refutation, defense, defence
the speech act of answering an attack on your assertions
"his refutation of the charges was short and persuasive"; "in defense he said the other man started it"
9. (noun) defense, defence, defense force, defence force
an organization of defenders that provides resistance against attack
"he joined the defense against invasion"
10. (noun) defensive structure, defense, defence
a structure used to defend against attack
"the artillery battered down the defenses"
11. (noun) defense, defence, denial, demurrer
a defendant's answer or plea denying the truth of the charges against him
"he gave evidence for the defense"
12. (noun) defense, defence
the act of defending someone or something against attack or injury
"a good boxer needs a good defense"; "defense against hurricanes is an urgent problem"
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Definition of 'defense' 
