defence

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English

Alternative forms

defense (US)

Etymology

From Middle English defens, defense, from Old French defens, defense, from Latin dēfensa (“protection”).

Pronunciation

(Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /dɪˈfɛns/
- Audio (Southern England) (file)
Rhymes: -ɛns

Noun

defence (countable and uncountable, plural defences) (British spelling)

The action of defending, of protecting from attack, danger or injury.
- 1599, William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, :
  In cases of defence ’tis best to weigh
  The enemy more mighty than he seems:
Something used to oppose attacks.
- 1609, William Shakespeare, “Sonnet 12”, in Shake-speares Sonnets. , London: By G[eorge] Eld for T[homas] T[horpe] and are to be sold by William Aspley, →OCLC:
  And nothing ’gainst Time’s scythe can make defence
  Save breed, to brave him when he takes thee hence.
An argument in support or justification of something.
- 1609, William Shakespeare, “Sonnet 89”, in Shake-speares Sonnets. , London: By G[eorge] Eld for T[homas] T[horpe] and are to be sold by William Aspley, →OCLC:
  Speak of my lameness, and I straight will halt,
  Against thy reasons making no defence.
- 2016 June 11, Phil McNulty, “England 1-1 Russia”, in BBC Sport‎:
  In Hodgson's defence, it must be stated that in large parts this was a vibrant, energetic performance with the emphasis almost exclusively on attack.
(team sports) A strategy and tactics employed to prevent the other team from scoring; contrasted with offence.
(team sports) The portion of a team dedicated to preventing the other team from scoring; contrasted with offence.
Government policy or (infra)structure related to the military.
Department of Defence
(obsolete) Prohibition; a prohibitory ordinance.
- 1673, William Temple, “An Essay upon the Advancement of Trade in Ireland” in Miscellanea, London: Edw Gellibrand, 1680, p. 116,
  severe defences may be made against weaving any Linnen under a certain breadth, such as may be of better use to the poorest People

Usage notes

The noun spelling is mainly used in the UK, Australia, Canada, Ireland, and New Zealand; defense is more commonly used in the USA.

Synonyms

See Thesaurus:defence

Antonyms

offence (Commonwealth), offense (US)

Derived terms

Translations

defence — see defense

Verb

defence (third-person singular simple present defences, present participle defencing, simple past and past participle defenced)

(obsolete, transitive) To furnish with defences; to fortify.
- 1656, John Hales, Dixi Custodiam:
  Better manned and more strongly defenced.

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