English dictionary



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English noun: defense

1. defense (act) (military) military action or resources protecting a country against potential enemies


SamplesThey died in the defense of Stalingrad.
They were developed for the defense program.


Synonymsdefence, defensive measure


Broader (hypernym)action, military action


Narrower (hyponym)air defense, biodefence, biodefense, biological defence, biological defense, biological warfare defence, biological warfare defense, BW defence, BW defense, chemical defence, chemical defense, deliberate defence, deliberate defense, hasty defence, hasty defense, minelaying, mining, stand, umbrella


Domain categoryarmed forces, armed services, military, military machine, war machine

2. defense (act) protection from harm


SamplesSanitation is the best defense against disease.


Synonymsdefence


Broader (hypernym)protection

3. defense (group) (sports) the team that is trying to prevent the other team from scoring


SamplesHis teams are always good on defense.


Synonymsdefence, defending team


Broader (hypernym)squad, team


Domain categoryathletics, sport


Antonymsoffence, offense

4. defense (communication) the justification for some act or belief


SamplesHe offered a persuasive defense of the theory.


Synonymsdefence, vindication


Broader (hypernym)justification


Narrower (hyponym)alibi, alibi, apologia, apology, exculpation, excuse, self-justification

5. defense (process) (psychiatry) an unconscious process that tries to reduce the anxiety associated with instinctive desires


Synonymsdefence, defence mechanism, defence reaction, defense mechanism, defense reaction


Broader (hypernym)process, psychoanalytic process, unconscious process


Narrower (hyponym)compensation, conversion, denial, displacement, idealisation, idealization, intellectualisation, intellectualization, isolation, projection, rationalisation, rationalization, reaction formation, regression, repression


Domain categorypsychiatry, psychological medicine, psychopathology

6. Defense (group) the federal department responsible for safeguarding national security of the United States; created in 1947


SynonymsDefense Department, Department of Defense, DoD, United States Department of Defense


Broader (hypernym)executive department


Part holonymAir Force, Army, Ballistic Missile Defense Organization, BMDO, Casualty Care Research Center, CCRC, DARPA, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Defense Information Systems Agency, Defense Intelligence Agency, Defense Logistics Agency, Defense Technical Information Center, Department of Defense Laboratory System, DIA, DISA, DTIC, LABLINK, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, National Reconnaissance Office, National Security Agency, Navy, NGA, NRO, NSA, U. S. Air Force, U. S. Army, United States Air Force, United States Army, United States Navy, US Air Force, US Army, US Navy, USA, USAF, USN

7. defense (group) the defendant and his legal advisors collectively


SamplesThe defense called for a mistrial.


Synonymsdefence, defense lawyers, defense team


Broader (hypernym)accumulation, aggregation, assemblage, collection


Antonymsprosecution

8. defense (communication) the speech act of answering an attack on your assertions


SamplesHis refutation of the charges was short and persuasive.
In defense he said the other man started it.


Synonymsdefence, refutation


Broader (hypernym)answer


Narrower (hyponym)confutation, rebuttal

9. defense (group) an organization of defenders that provides resistance against attack


SamplesHe joined the defense against invasion.


Synonymsdefence, defence force, defense force


Broader (hypernym)organisation, organization


Narrower (hyponym)bastion

10. defense (artifact) a structure used to defend against attack


SamplesThe artillery battered down the defenses.


Synonymsdefence, defensive structure


Broader (hypernym)construction, structure


Narrower (hyponym)cheval-de-frise, chevaux-de-frise, fastness, fort, fortification, fortress, line of defence, line of defense, munition, outwork, stronghold

11. defense (act) a defendant's answer or plea denying the truth of the charges against him


SamplesHe gave evidence for the defense.


Synonymsdefence, demurrer, denial


Broader (hypernym)due process, due process of law


Narrower (hyponym)entrapment


Part meronymtrial


Domain categoryjurisprudence, law


Antonymscriminal prosecution, prosecution

12. defense (act) the act of defending someone or something against attack or injury


SamplesA good boxer needs a good defense.
Defense against hurricanes is an urgent problem.


Synonymsdefence


Broader (hypernym)protection









Based on WordNet 3.0 copyright © Princeton University.
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