defence

About 20.50 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. noun The action of defending, of protecting from attack, danger or injury.
2. noun Something used to oppose attacks.
3. noun An argument in support or justification of something.
4. noun A strategy and tactics employed to prevent the other team from scoring; contrasted with offence.
5. noun The portion of a team dedicated to preventing the other team from scoring; contrasted with offence.
6. noun Government policy or (infra)structure related to the military.

   Department of Defence

7. noun Prohibition; a prohibitory ordinance.
8. verb To furnish with defences; to fortify.

Similar words

defense defence mechanism vindication demurrer defense mechanism refutation denial defence reaction defending team defense lawyers

Often followed by

of and against in to was is policy minister

Word family

defense defensed defenseless defenselessly defenselessness defenselessnesses defenses defensing