# defended

/dɪˈfɛndəd/ (US) · /dɪfˈɛndɪd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/defended
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. protected from attack

verb · CEFR B1

protected someone or something from a physical attack or danger.

For teachers: protected a person, place, or object from physical harm or aggression.

- The soldiers defended the city walls for three days during the storm.
- The garrison successfully defended the mountain pass against a much larger force, preventing the invasion from reaching the capital city.

### 2. supported an idea

verb · CEFR B1

spoke or wrote in support of an idea or person when others criticised them.

For teachers: acted as an advocate for a person, idea, or policy in the face of criticism or opposition.

- She defended her decision to quit her job, even though her parents disagreed.
- The scientist defended her controversial findings during the press conference, providing extensive data to counter the skepticism of her peers.

### 3. legal response

verb · CEFR B2

represented someone in court or acted as a lawyer for the person accused of a crime.

For teachers: acted as a legal representative for a defendant in a court of law.

- The famous lawyer defended the man accused of stealing the paintings.
- The public defender defended the suspect with great skill, eventually proving that the evidence against him was circumstantial.

### 4. having protection

adjective · CEFR B2

describes a place that has walls, guards, or other ways to keep it safe.

For teachers: provided with defensive measures or fortifications.

- The castle was well defended with high stone walls and a deep moat.
- The coastal town remained heavily defended long after the war ended, as the government feared a second wave of naval incursions.

## Examples

- The soldiers defended the city from the enemy.
- The lawyer defended her client by showing evidence that he was not at the scene of the crime.
- The philosopher spent his entire career writing books that defended the principle of individual liberty against those who argued for total state control.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.