defence

(BrE) (AmE defense) noun protection against attack 1 [U] the act of protecting sb/sth from attack, criticism, etc: soldiers who died in defence of their country * When her brother was criticized she leapt to his defence. * What points can be raised in defence of this argument? * I have to say in her defence that she knew nothing about it beforehand. seealsoSELF-DEFENCE 2 [C,U] ~ (against sth) something that provides protection against attack from enemies, the weather, illness, etc: The town walls were built as a defence against enemy attacks. * The harbour's sea defences are in poor condition. * The body has natural defence mechanisms to protect it from disease. * Humour is a more effective defence than violence. 3 [U] the organization of the people and systems that are used by a government to protect a country from attack: (BrE) the Ministry of Defence * (AmE) the Department of Defense * Further cuts in defence spending are being considered. support 4 [C] something that is said or written in order to support sth: a defence of Marxism law 5 [C] what is said in a court of law to prove that a person did not commit a crime; the act of presenting this argument in a court of law: Her defence was that she was somewhere completely different at the time of the crime. * He wanted to conduct his own defence. 6 (the defence) [sing.+sing./pl.v.] the lawyer or lawyers whose job is to prove in a court of law that a person did not commit a crime comparePROSECUTION in sport 7 [sing.,U] the players who must prevent the other team from scoring; the position of these players on the sports field: Welford cut through the defence to score the winning goal. * (BrE) She plays in defence. * (AmE) He plays on defense. compareATTACK, OFFENSE 8 [C] a contest, game, etc. in which the previous winner or winners compete in order to try to win again: Milan's defence of the European Cup