defense

noun

1. the federal department responsible for safeguarding national security of the United States; created in 1947
2. (military) military action or resources protecting a country against potential enemies"they died in the defense of Stalingrad"
3. protection from harm"sanitation is the best defense against disease"
4. (sports) the team that is trying to prevent the other team from scoring"his teams are always good on defense"
5. the justification for some act or belief"he offered a persuasive defense of the theory"
6. (psychiatry) an unconscious process that tries to reduce the anxiety associated with instinctive desires
7. the defendant and their legal advisors collectively"the defense called for a mistrial"
8. the speech act of answering an attack on your assertions"his refutation of the charges was short and persuasive"
9. an organization of defenders that provides resistance against attack"he joined the defense against invasion"
10. a structure used to defend against attack"the artillery battered down the defenses"
11. a defendant's answer or plea denying the truth of the charges against them"he gave evidence for the defense"
12. the act of defending someone or something against attack or injury"a good boxer needs a good defense"