Defence Meaning
/dɪˈfɛns/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounThe action of defending, of protecting from attack, danger or injury.
nounSomething used to oppose attacks.
Sentence Examples
That's no good! You're tall so you've got to be in the forward defence.
The threat increases; a defence that doesn't evolve is meaningless.
Soldiers who died in defence of their country
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
CEFR Practice Quiz
The castle's thick stone walls provided excellent ____ against enemy attacks.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
That's no good! You're tall so you've got to be in the forward ____.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English defens, defense, from Old French defens, defense, from Late Latin dēfēnsa (“protection”). Displaced Old English bewering.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"In cases of defence ’tis best to weigh
The enemy more mighty than he seems:"
— 1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iv]:
"And nothing ’gainst Time’s scythe can make defence
Save breed, to brave him when he takes thee hence."
— 1609, William Shakespeare, “Sonnet 12”, in Shake-speares Sonnets. […], London: By G[eorge] Eld for T[homas] T[horpe] and are to be sold by William Aspley, →OCLC:
"As governments and health officials continue to flip-flop on vaccine age requirements, and anti-vaxxers spread falsehoods through social media and protests, the vaxxie might just be a powerful line of defence against vaccine hesitancy."
— 2021 July 28, Louise Grimmer, Gary Mortimer, Martin Grimmer, “Vaccine selfies may seem trivial, but they show people doing their civic duty — and probably encourage others too”, in The Conversation, archived from the original on 19 Aug 2021:
"Speak of my lameness, and I straight will halt,
Against thy reasons making no defence."
— 1609, William Shakespeare, “Sonnet 89”, in Shake-speares Sonnets. […], London: By G[eorge] Eld for T[homas] T[horpe] and are to be sold by William Aspley, →OCLC:
"In Hodgson's defence, it must be stated that in large parts this was a vibrant, energetic performance with the emphasis almost exclusively on attack."
— 2016 June 11, Phil McNulty, “England 1-1 Russia”, in BBC Sport, archived from the original on 24 May 2024:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The castle's thick stone walls provided excellent ____ against enemy attacks.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
That's no good! You're tall so you've got to be in the forward ____.