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defense
noun
the
act
of
protecting
someone
or
something
from
attack
,
danger
,
or
harm
•
The
town
built
high
walls
as
a
strong
defense
against
invaders
.
The
town
built
high
walls
as
a
strong
defense
against
invaders
.
•
Using
sunscreen
is
a
smart
defense
against
sunburn
.
Using
sunscreen
is
a
smart
defense
against
sunburn
.
Borrowed
from
Old
French
“
defens
”,
from
Latin
“
defendere
”
meaning
“
to
ward
off
”.
noun
the
people
,
weapons
,
and
plans
a
country
uses
to
protect
itself
in
war
•
The
government
increased
its
spending
on
national
defense
this
year
.
The
government
increased
its
spending
on
national
defense
this
year
.
•
Modern
defense
systems
include
missiles
that
can
intercept
incoming
rockets
.
Modern
defense
systems
include
missiles
that
can
intercept
incoming
rockets
.
Sense
developed
in
the
17th
century
as
nation-states
formed
standing
armies
for
collective
protection
.
noun
the
players
or
actions
of
a
team
that
try
to
stop
the
opposing
team
from
scoring
•
Her
basketball
team
has
the
best
defense
in
the
league
.
Her
basketball
team
has
the
best
defense
in
the
league
.
•
The
coach
praised
the
solid
defense
after
the
0–0
draw
.
The
coach
praised
the
solid
defense
after
the
0–0
draw
.
Sporting
sense
appeared
in
the
late
19th
century
as
rules
distinguished
offensive
and
defensive
roles
.
noun
the
lawyers
or
arguments
that
try
to
prove
an
accused
person
is
not
guilty
in
a
court
of
law
•
The
defense
called
two
witnesses
to
support
the
alibi
.
The
defense
called
two
witnesses
to
support
the
alibi
.
•
During
closing
statements
,
the
defense
argued
that
the
evidence
was
weak
.
During
closing
statements
,
the
defense
argued
that
the
evidence
was
weak
.
Legal
sense
arose
in
Middle
English
when
‘
defense
’
came
to
mean
protection
of
one
’
s
rights
in
court
.
noun
a
reason
,
fact
,
or
explanation
that
shows
something
is
right
or
that
someone
is
not
to
blame
•
In
defense
of
her
decision
,
she
pointed
to
the
company
’
s
improved
profits
.
In
defense
of
her
decision
,
she
pointed
to
the
company
’
s
improved
profits
.
•
His
only
defense
was
that
he
had
misunderstood
the
instructions
.
His
only
defense
was
that
he
had
misunderstood
the
instructions
.
From
earlier
sense
of
‘
defending
’
one
’
s
actions
in
speech
or
writing
.
noun
the
natural
ways
a
body
or
organism
protects
itself
against
illness
or
harm
•
White
blood
cells
are
an
important
defense
against
infection
.
White
blood
cells
are
an
important
defense
against
infection
.
•
Plants
have
chemical
defenses
that
deter
insects
.
Plants
have
chemical
defenses
that
deter
insects
.
Scientific
sense
broadened
in
the
19th
century
with
discoveries
about
the
immune
system
.
defensive
adjective
Intended
to
defend
or
protect
rather
than
to
attack
.
•
The
castle
walls
were
built
extra
thick
to
provide
a
strong
defensive
barrier
against
invaders
.
The
castle
walls
were
built
extra
thick
to
provide
a
strong
defensive
barrier
against
invaders
.
•
The
government
insists
its
new
missile
system
is
purely
defensive
.
The
government
insists
its
new
missile
system
is
purely
defensive
.
From
Latin
dēfēnsus
(
defended
,
protected
)
+
-ive
,
entering
English
in
the
late
17th
century
to
describe
things
meant
for
protection
.
adjective
Quick
to
protect
yourself
from
criticism
or
perceived
attack
,
often
by
justifying
your
actions
.
•
When
her
project
was
questioned
,
Maria
became
defensive
and
explained
every
detail
.
When
her
project
was
questioned
,
Maria
became
defensive
and
explained
every
detail
.
•
Try
not
to
sound
defensive
;
we're
just
trying
to
help
.
Try
not
to
sound
defensive
;
we're
just
trying
to
help
.
Psychological
use
developed
in
the
mid-20th
century
,
extending
the
original
sense
of
protecting
oneself
to
include
protecting
one
’
s
ego
or
self-image
.