defend

[dih-fend]

verb (used with object)

1. to ward off attack from; guard against assault or injury (usually followed by from oragainst ).

   The sentry defended the gate against sudden attack.

   Synonyms: fortify, garrison, shield, screen, shelter
   Antonyms: attack

2. to maintain by argument, evidence, etc.; uphold.

   She defended her claim successfully.

   Synonyms: vindicate

3. to contest (a legal charge, claim, etc.).

4. Law.,  to serve as attorney for (a defendant).

   He has defended some of the most notorious criminals.

5. to support (an argument, theory, etc.) in the face of criticism; prove the validity of (a dissertation, thesis, or the like) by answering arguments and questions put by a committee of specialists.

6. Sports.,  to attempt to retain (a championship title, position, etc.), as in a competition against a challenger.

   A fortuitous trade has landed him on the team defending the World Series championship.

verb (used without object)

1. Law.,  to enter or make a defense.

2. Sports.,  to prevent the opposing team from scoring.

   She’s a freshman who already scores and defends like a professional.

defend

/ dɪˈfɛnd /

verb

1. to protect (a person, place, etc) from harm or danger; ward off an attack on

2. (tr) to support in the face of criticism, esp by argument or evidence

3. to represent (a defendant) in court in a civil or criminal action

4. sport to guard or protect (oneself, one's goal, etc) against attack

5. (tr) to protect (a championship or title) against a challenge

Other Word Forms

• defendable adjective
• defender noun
• undefendable adjective
• undefendably adverb
• undefended adjective
• well-defended adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of defend¹

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English defenden, from Old French défendre, from Latin dēfendere “to ward off, repel,” from dē- de- + -fendere “to strike” ( bane ( def. ) )

Word History and Origins

Origin of defend¹

C13: from Old French defendre, from Latin dēfendere to ward off, from _de- + -fendere to strike

Synonym Study

Defend, guard, preserve, protect all mean to keep safe. To defend is to strive to keep safe by resisting attack: to defend one's country. To guard is to watch over in order to keep safe: to guard a camp. To preserve is to keep safe in the midst of danger, either in a single instance or continuously: to preserve a spirit of conciliation. To protect is to keep safe by interposing a shield or barrier: to protect books by means of heavy paper covers.

Example Sentences

The man’s attorney presented surveillance footage of the attack to show his client was in fact defending himself, and later requested that the charges be reduced to a misdemeanor.

From Los Angeles Times

Kennedy repeatedly defended his record in heated exchanges with senators from both parties and questioned data that show the effectiveness of vaccines.

From Los Angeles Times

Russo helped Arsenal win the Champions League in May and scored for England in the Euro 2025 final in July as they successfully defended their title.

From BBC

Cooper has previously defended the organisation's proscription, saying last month that some of its supporters "don't know the full nature" of the group, adding that it was "not a non-violent organisation".

From BBC

In the testy appearance before the Senate Finance Committee, Kennedy repeatedly defended his record in heated exchanges with senators from both parties and questioned data that show the effectiveness of vaccines.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• contend 
• fight 
• fight for www.thesaurus.com
• guard 
• hold 
• maintain 
• oppose 
• preserve 
• prevent 
• resist 
• safeguard 
• secure 
• shield 
• uphold