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Added 3 October 2026

defense

/dɪˈfɛns/ noun

In Latin: dēfēnsiō Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about defense at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

The action of defending or protecting from attack, danger, or injury.
Anything employed to oppose attack(s). A strategy and tactics employed to prevent the other team from scoring; contrasted with offense. The portion of a team dedicated to preventing the other team from scoring; contrasted with offense.
A strategy and tactics employed to prevent the other team from scoring; contrasted with offense.

verb

To employ defensive tactics (so as to block). .mw-parser-output .defdate{font-size:smaller}

verb

To furnish with defenses; to defend, protect.

Origin

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 Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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