defense
n. C / Un. the act of protecting someone or something from an attack. It can also mean the people or things that provide this protection, like a wall or a team of lawyers.
n. the action of resisting an attack or protecting against danger. It may also refer to the legal arguments presented by a defendant or the collective military resources of a nation.
The city built a strong wall for defense.
The lawyer prepared a strong defense to prove that his client was innocent of the charges.
The nation's strategy shifted from offensive maneuvers to a robust coastal defense, prioritizing the protection of its borders over territorial expansion.
From Middle English defens, defense, from Old French defens, defense, from Late Latin dēfēnsa (“protection”). Displaced native Old English bewering. The verb is from the noun.
From Middle English defencen, defensen, from Old French defenser or its etymon, Latin dēfēnsō.
Often used as an uncountable noun for the general concept of protection, but countable when referring to specific legal arguments or sports strategies.