Defence Dɪˈfens Country Completely Died Brother Criticized Leapt

• soldiers who died in defence of their country
• when her brother was criticized she leapt to his defence.
• what points can be raised in defence of this argument?
• i have to say in her defence that she knew nothing about it beforehand.

defence

1. the act of protecting somebody/something from attack, criticism, etc.
• see also self-defence
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/self-defence
• soldiers who died in defence of their country
• When her brother was criticized she leapt to his defence.
• What points can be raised in defence of this argument?
• I have to say in her defence that she knew nothing about it beforehand.
2. something that provides protection against attack from enemies, the weather, illness, etc.
• The town walls were built as a defence against enemy attacks.
• The harbour's sea defences are in poor condition.
• The body has natural defence mechanisms to protect it from disease.
• Humour is a more effective defence than violence.
3. the organization of the people and systems that are used by a government to protect a country from attack
• the Ministry of Defence
• the Department of Defense
• Further cuts in defence spending are being considered.
4. something that is said or written in order to support something
• a defence of Marxism
5. what is said in court to prove that a person did not commit a crime; the act of presenting this argument in court
• Her defence was that she was somewhere completely different at the time of the crime.
• He wanted to conduct his own defence.
6. the lawyer or lawyers whose job is to prove in court that a person did not commit a crime
• compare prosecution
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/prosecution
7. the players who must prevent the other team from scoring; the position of these players on the sports field
• compare attack
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/attack_1
• Welford cut through the defence to score the winning goal.
• She plays in defence.
• He plays on defense.
8. a contest, game, etc. in which the previous winner or winners compete in order to try to win again
• Barcelona’s defence of the Champions League title

Extra Examples

• He plays on defence.
• She spoke in his defence.
• The judge rejected her insanity defence.
• The sea breached the coastal defences in a number of spots.
• They are building up defences along the river.
• They put up an effective defence against the guerrilla forces.
• With her tears and angry accusations she completely overwhelmed his defences.
• With her tears she completely overwhelmed his defences.
• a defence to murder
• defence against attacks from the north
• the body’s natural defence against viruses
• to fight in defence of your country
• to plan the defence of harbour
• to play in defence
• He always sprang to Rose’s defence when Ed tried to criticize her.
• He has shown courage in coming to the defence of the embattled president.
• He paid tribute to all those who had died in defence of their country.
• Her defence was that she was somewhere completely different at the time of the crime.
• I have to say in her defence that she knew nothing about it beforehand.
• The body has natural defence mechanisms to protect it from disease.
• The harbour’s sea defences are in poor condition.
• The man later told police that he was acting in self-defence.
• When her brother was criticized she leapt to his defence.

Word Origin

• Middle English: from Old French defens, from late Latin defensum (neuter), defensa (feminine), past participles of defendere ‘defend’.