Defence (Noun)
Meaning 1
The defendant and his legal advisors collectively; "the defense called for a mistrial".
Classification
Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects.
Examples
- The defense team spent hours reviewing the evidence before presenting their case.
- The defense argued that the prosecution's key witness was unreliable.
- The defense called for a mistrial due to the judge's alleged bias.
- The defense strategy was to poke holes in the prosecution's timeline of events.
- The defense rested its case after presenting a series of character witnesses.
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Meaning 2
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".
Classification
Nouns denoting acts or actions.
Examples
- The country's military defence system was put to the test during the war.
- The lawyer's defence of her client was impressive, and the jury delivered a verdict of not guilty.
- The city's flood defence system was breached, causing widespread damage and displacement.
- The team's strong defence was the key to their winning the championship.
- The government's defence minister was criticized for the country's lack of preparedness for the terrorist attack.
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Meaning 3
The justification for some act or belief; "he offered a persuasive defense of the theory".
Classification
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents.
Examples
- The company's defence for laying off employees was that it was necessary to cut costs.
- The lawyer presented a robust defence of her client's innocence in the face of overwhelming evidence.
- She made a spirited defence of her artwork after it was heavily criticized by the art critics.
- He struggled to come up with a coherent defence of his thesis in front of the examination committee.
- The activist mounted a passionate defence of the right to free speech on university campuses.
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Meaning 4
(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".
Classification
Nouns denoting acts or actions.
Examples
- The country's defense system relies heavily on its naval power to protect its coastline from invasion.
- The defense ministry announced plans to increase military spending in response to growing tensions with neighboring countries.
- The soldiers fought bravely in the defense of their homeland against the invading forces.
- The defense contractor was awarded a multi-million dollar contract to develop a new missile defense system.
- The city's defense walls were breached by the enemy army after a long and brutal siege.
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Meaning 5
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".
Classification
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents.
Examples
- The politician's defence of her economic policies was widely criticized by the opposition party.
- Her defence of her PhD thesis was successful, and she was awarded her degree.
- The lawyer's defence of his client was convincing, and the jury delivered a verdict of not guilty.
- In defence of his decision, the manager explained that he had to cut costs to keep the company afloat.
- The athlete's defence of his title was impressive, as he won the championship for the third year in a row.
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Meaning 6
(psychiatry) an unconscious process that tries to reduce the anxiety associated with instinctive desires.
Classification
Nouns denoting natural processes.
Examples
- The patient's sarcastic remarks were a defence mechanism to mask her true feelings of inadequacy.
- His tendency to intellectualize the situation was a defence against the emotional pain of his recent breakup.
- The psychiatrist helped her patient recognize that his obsessive cleanliness was a defence against feelings of guilt and shame.
- Her constant need for control was a defence against the fear of being vulnerable and hurt by others.
- The patient's denial of his infidelity was a defence mechanism that protected him from the anxiety of confronting the consequences of his actions.
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Meaning 7
An organization of defenders that provides resistance against attack; "he joined the defense against invasion".
Classification
Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects.
Examples
- The country's defence system was put to the test during the surprise attack by the enemy forces.
- The city's ancient walls were a key part of its medieval defence against invading armies.
- The company's defence against the hostile takeover bid was led by its CEO and board of directors.
- The country's defence budget was increased significantly in response to the growing threat from its neighbour.
- The animal's defence mechanism included the ability to release a foul-smelling liquid to deter predators.
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Meaning 8
A structure used to defend against attack; "the artillery battered down the defenses".
Classification
Nouns denoting man-made objects.
Examples
- The castle's stone walls served as a strong natural defence against invaders.
- Their medieval fortifications were an impressive defence system, complete with moats and watchtowers.
- The small village's primary defence was a hastily constructed wooden palisade around its homes.
- Despite its thick walls and towers, the fortress's sea-facing defence was woefully inadequate against naval attack.
- By surrounding the city with a defence of tightly packed stakes, the defenders were able to repel the enemy's cavalry charges.
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Meaning 9
A defendant's answer or plea denying the truth of the charges against him; "he gave evidence for the defense".
Classification
Nouns denoting acts or actions.
Examples
- The lawyer's defence of her client was based on the lack of concrete evidence.
- The defendant's defence was that he was not at the scene of the crime.
- The prosecution's case was weakened by the strong defence presented by the accused.
- During the trial, the lawyer called several witnesses to testify in her client's defence.
- The judge rejected the defence's argument that the arrest was unlawful.
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Meaning 10
Protection from harm; "sanitation is the best defense against disease".
Classification
Nouns denoting acts or actions.
Examples
- Vaccination is a strong defence against infectious diseases.
- The country's military is its first line of defence against external threats.
- Regular exercise is a good defence against heart disease.
- The helmet is a vital defence against head injuries in cycling accidents.
- A healthy diet is a good defence against many chronic illnesses.
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Meaning 11
(sports) the team that is trying to prevent the other team from scoring; "his teams are always good on defense".
Classification
Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects.
Examples
- The coach adjusted the team's defence strategy to counter the opposing team's powerful offence.
- Her teams are always good on defence, and she is known for her exceptional ability to anticipate her opponents' moves.
- The basketball team's defence was lacking, allowing their opponents to score easily from beyond the three-point line.
- Their defence was able to hold off the opposing team's attacks, securing a narrow victory.
- The new player's exceptional defensive skills greatly strengthened the team's defence, leading to a series of consecutive wins.