defenses
n. C / Un. the things a person, country, or body uses to protect itself from an attack. It can be a physical wall, a group of soldiers, or even your own immune system.
n. the methods, structures, or systems used to resist an attack or protect against harm. Often used in the plural to describe military installations, legal arguments, or biological immunity.
The body's natural defenses help fight off the common cold.
The city spent millions of dollars upgrading its coastal defenses to protect against rising sea levels and storm surges.
The lawyer argued that the defendant's actions were necessary for self-defense, though the prosecution claimed the physical defenses of the property had never actually been breached.
Commonly used in the plural ('defenses') when referring to military fortifications or biological systems. The spelling 'defenses' is standard in American English, while 'defences' is used in British English.