Defend Meaning
/dɪˈfɛnd/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo ward off attacks against; to fight to protect; to guard.
verbTo support by words or writing; to vindicate, talk in favour of.
Sentence Examples
We have to defend our country from the foreign aggression.
We must defend our freedom at all cost.
The role of the military is to defend the country.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The lawyer will vigorously ____ her client against the accusations of fraud.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
We have to ____ our country from the foreign aggression.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English defenden, from Old French defendre, deffendre (Modern French défendre), from Latin dēfendō (“to ward off”), from Proto-Italic *fendō, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gʷʰen-. Displaced native Old English bewerian.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Most Zionists hoped for a state of their own, but early in the 20th century, writers like Hillel Solotaroff and Chaim Zhitlowsky, both Yiddish-speaking immigrant intellectuals in New York, imagined another alternative: a federation of self-governing anarchist communes in Palestine that would defend Jewish life without relying on state power."
— 2019 July 15, Greg Afinogenov, “The Jewish Case for Open Borders”, in Jewish Currents, number Summer 2019:
"Justice Elena Kagan on Thursday defended the code of conduct the Supreme Court created last year, but conceded there needs to be a way to enforce the rules for it to be more effective."
— 2024 July 25, Devan Cole, “Justice Elena Kagan says Supreme Court’s code of conduct needs an enforcement plan. Takeaways from her wide-ranging comments.”, in CNN:
"Philip Miles, defending, said: "This was a single instance, there was no allegation of continuing behaviour over a long period of time.""
— 2011 December 14, Steven Morris, “Devon woman jailed for 168 days for killing kitten in microwave”, in The Guardian:
"The vertue is, that neither steele, nor stone
The stroke thereof from entrance may defend[…]."
— 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto VIII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:
"Broder said sir launcelot wete ye wel I am ful lothe to departe oute of this realme
but the quene hath defended me soo hyhely
that me semeth she wille neuer be my good lady as she hath ben"
— 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, “ij”, in Le Morte Darthur, book XVIII:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The lawyer will vigorously ____ her client against the accusations of fraud.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
We have to ____ our country from the foreign aggression.