1 : the act of defending someone or something from attack [noncount] ▪ weapons of defense = weapons used for defense ▪ They fought in defense of their country. [=they fought to defend their country] ▪ the body's first line of defense [=way of defending itself] against illness [count] ▪ They put up a good defense, but the city ultimately fell to the invaders. ▪ They mounted a good defense. — see also self-defense 2 [count] : something that is used to protect yourself, your country, etc.
▪ The best defense is a good offense. [=the best way to defend something is to try to beat the opposite side] ▪ The city's defenses were not strong enough to keep out the invaders. ▪ We need to improve our defenses. ▪ the nation's air and ground defenses — often + against ▪ We have no defense against such powerful weapons. [=we have no way to defend ourselves against such powerful weapons] ▪ the body's natural defenses against disease and infection 3 : the act of speaking or writing in support of someone or something that is being attacked or criticized [noncount] ▪ His friends quickly came/jumped to his defense. [=his friends began saying that he was right or good] — often used in the phrase in defense ▪ She spoke out in defense of justice. [=she defended justice] ▪ Let me say, in her defense, that I would have done the same thing that she did. ▪ He spoke up in his own defense. [=he defended himself] [count] — usually singular ▪ She offered no defense [=justification] for her actions. ▪ We listened to a passionate/spirited defense of the governor's decision. 4 [noncount] : the things that are done by a country to protect itself from enemies
▪ In my view, the most important issue facing our country today is national defense. ▪ The candidates accused each other of being soft/weak on defense. ▪ The President wants to increase spending on defense. ▪ He was the Secretary of Defense under the last President. — often used before another noun ▪ He proposed an increase in defense spending. ▪ the defense secretary/minister/department ▪ They signed a billion-dollar defense contract with the company. ▪ cuts in the defense budget 5 a [singular] : the side of a legal case which argues that a person who is being sued or accused of a crime is innocent : the lawyer or lawyers who represent the defendant in a court case
▪ His friends are raising money (to pay) for his defense. ▪ The defense rests, Your Honor. ▪ The defense told the jury that the prosecution had not proved its case. — often used before another noun ▪ defense attorneys/lawyers ▪ a defense witness [=a person who speaks to support the defense's case] ▪ He had three lawyers on his defense team. — compare prosecution
b [count] : the method that is used in a court case to prove that someone is innocent
▪ Her lawyers plan to use an insanity defense. [=they will say that she was not sane when she committed the crime] ▪ It's a valid defense, and I think we should be able to win the case. 6 /ˈdi:ˌfɛns/ a : the group of players on a team who try to stop an opponent from scoring [count] ▪ He ran through the defense and scored a touchdown. ▪ Our team has the best defense in the league. ▪ a talented defense [noncount] ▪ She began the season on defense [=playing on the part of the team that defends the goal], but her coach later put her on offense.
b [noncount] : the way that players on a team try to stop an opponent from scoring
▪ The team needs some work on its defense. ▪ These guys play good/strong/tough defense. — compare offense 4