defense
10 synonyms and 3 antonyms for defense, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The action of protecting someone or something from attack or harm.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use defense
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old French defens/defense, from Late Latin dēfēnsa ("protection").
Full origin of defense →Frequently asked questions
What does “defense” mean?
The word “defense” means the action of protecting someone or something from attack or harm.
How do you pronounce “defense”?
“Defense” is pronounced dih-FEHNS (/dɪˈfɛns/ in IPA).
How do you use “defense” in a sentence?
Here is “defense” used in a sentence: “The nation increased spending on defense.”
What is another word for “defense”?
Words with a similar meaning to “defense” include defence, fortification, guard, preservation, protection and safeguard.
What is the opposite of “defense”?
The opposite of “defense” — its antonyms — are offense, prosecution and attack.
What part of speech is “defense”?
“Defense” is a noun.
Where does the word “defense” come from?
The word “defense” comes from Late Latin. From Old French defens/defense, from Late Latin dēfēnsa ("protection").
Is “defense” a common word?
“Defense” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between 'defense' and 'defence'?
They are the same word with the same meaning; only the spelling differs. 'Defense' is the American spelling, while 'defence' is standard in British, Australian, and other Commonwealth English. Choose one to match your audience and stay consistent. The related adjective 'defensive' is spelled with an 's' in both varieties.
What is the opposite of defense?
The main opposite is 'offense' (or 'offence'), meaning attack rather than protection. In sports, the offense tries to score while the defense tries to stop them. Other antonyms include 'attack', 'assault', and 'aggression'. Which fits best depends on whether you mean a game, a battle, or a general contrast.
What are the different types of defense?
The word covers several fields. Military defense means protecting a country from attack. Self-defense is protecting yourself from harm. In sport, defense is stopping opponents from scoring. In law, the defense is the case argued on behalf of an accused person. Each shares the core idea of guarding against a threat.