defense
gb/dɪfˈɛns/ us/dɪfˈɛns/
A2
Kiingereza
~ 900
Maana
maana 0
Nomino
B1
action
1
Protection from harm or attack
Actions taken to keep someone or something safe from harm or attack.
Muundo wa matumizi:
[someone/something] in defense of [someone/something]
Kosa la kawaida:
Learners sometimes confuse 'defense' with 'offense', forgetting that 'defense' is about protection, not attack.
Visawe
protection (Broader term for keeping someone or something safe; not always in the context of an attack.)
Vinyume
attack (Direct action intended to harm or damage someone or something, opposite of defense.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
self-defense
|national defense
|defense strategy
|defense system
|defense against
Mada
security
|law
|conflict
|core_vocabulary
Mifano
- The country invested heavily in its national defense.
- She spoke in defense of her friend.
- The castle walls were built for defense against invaders.
- The lawyer's defense convinced the jury.
- Good nutrition is your best defense against illness.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- The police work for our defense.
- He made a defense for his actions.
- The army is part of the national defense.
- I wear a helmet for defense when I ride my bike.
Nomino
B2
entity
2
Legal argument in court
What a lawyer says and does in court to show that the person is not guilty.
Muundo wa matumizi:
the defense of [someone/something]
Kosa la kawaida:
Learners may confuse 'defense' as a team in sports with this legal meaning.
Visawe
justification (A reason given to show why an action was right, not always in a legal context.)
Vinyume
prosecution (The side in a trial that tries to prove the accused is guilty.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
mount a defense
|legal defense
|criminal defense
|defense attorney
Mada
law
|court
Mifano
- Her lawyer prepared a strong defense for the trial.
- The defense called several witnesses.
- In his defense, he claimed he was elsewhere at the time.
- The judge listened carefully to the defense.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- The defense said he did not do it.
- Her defense was that she was at home.
- The defense asked questions to the witness.
Nomino
A2
entity
3
Team or actions to stop scoring
In sports, the part of the team that tries to stop the other team from scoring.
Kosa la kawaida:
Some learners mix 'defense' and 'offense' when talking about sports roles.
Visawe
backline (Specific to some sports like soccer or rugby, referring to defensive players.)
Vinyume
offense (The part of a team that tries to score points.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
play defense
|strong defense
|defense line
Mada
sports
Mifano
- Their defense was solid throughout the match.
- He plays on the defense for his football team.
- The coach praised the team's defense after the win.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- Our team's defense is very strong.
- He is good at playing defense.
- The defense stopped the ball.
Nomino
technical
B2
action
4
Military protection of territory
Military actions to keep a country or place safe from enemies.
Visawe
fortification (A physical structure for military protection; narrower than overall military defense.)
Vinyume
invasion (An attack by an enemy entering a territory.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
air defense
|missile defense
|coastal defense
Mada
military
|politics
Mifano
- The air defense system detected incoming missiles.
- Troops were stationed along the border for defense.
- Naval forces provide coastal defense.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- The army has a strong air defense.
- They built walls for defense.
- Ships are used for sea defense.
Sarufi
Umbo la kamusi
defense
IPA
GB/dɪfˈɛns/
US/dɪfˈɛns/
Silabi na mkazo
de - fense (silabi 2)
Stress on 2nd syllable (fense)
Maumbo ya neno
Noun
- Base: defense
- Variant Spelling: defence
- Plural: defense, defenses
Familia ya neno
Forms
defence
noun B1
defenses
noun
Related words
defensible
adjective
defendant
noun B2
Negative and opposite forms
defenseless
adjective
indefensible
adjective
Advanced or less common
defensiveness
noun
defensibility
noun C1
Vidokezo muhimu
- Spelling Variant: defence Noun
Semi
come to someone's defense
1/kˈʌm tə sˈʌmwˌʌnz dɪfˈɛns/
fixed phrase
Help protect someone from harm or criticism
To help someone by protecting them from harm or saying they are right when others say they are wrong.
Mifano
- Several coworkers came to her defense when she was blamed for the mistake.
- He came to my defense when I was being criticized.
in someone's defense
1/ˈɪn sˈʌmwˌʌnz dɪfˈɛns/
fixed phrase
To justify someone's behavior or decision
To say something to explain why someone did something and show it was right or reasonable.
Mifano
- In her defense, she had no idea this would happen.
- He spoke in his friend's defense during the meeting.
play defense
1/plˈeɪ dɪfˈɛns/
fixed phrase
Take defensive role in sports game
To be in the position in a sport where you try to stop the other team from scoring points or goals.
Mifano
- We need to play better defense in the second half.
- He usually plays defense rather than offense.
self-defense
1/sˈɛlf dɪfˈɛns/
fixed phrase
Protection of oneself from attack
When you protect yourself from being hurt by another person.
Mifano
- He claimed he hit the man in self-defense.
- Martial arts can be used for self-defense.