defence
When you keep someone or something safe from harm or attack.
The action of protecting someone or something from attack, criticism, or danger.
What a lawyer says in court to show the accused person is not guilty.
The case presented by or on behalf of the party accused in a court of law to prove they are not guilty.
The part of a sports team that tries to stop the other team from getting points or goals.
The players or actions in a sport whose role is to stop the opposing team from scoring.
When a country uses its army, navy, or air force to stop enemies from attacking it.
Military actions and resources used to protect a country from attack.
- Base: defence
- Variant Spelling: defense
- Plural: defence, defences
- Spelling Variant: defense Noun
come to someone's defence
1helping protect someone from harm/criticism
To help someone by protecting them from being hurt or criticised.
- Several friends came to her defence when she was unfairly blamed.
- He came to my defence during the heated debate.
in defence of
1protecting or supporting someone/something
To say or do something to protect or support someone or something from attack or criticism.
- She spoke in defence of her colleague during the meeting.
- In defence of his actions, he explained the difficult situation he was in.
self-defence
1protecting oneself from harm
When you protect yourself from being hurt by another person.
- He claimed he hit the attacker in self-defence.
- Learning self-defence can help you feel safer.