defence
B1Neutral to formal. Common in legal, military, sports, and everyday contexts.
Definition
Meaning
The action of protecting from or resisting attack, harm, or criticism.
The case presented by or on behalf of the party being accused or sued in a legal proceeding; the military resources of a nation; the players in a team sport whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from scoring.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a noun. The concept can be abstract (e.g., a legal argument) or concrete (e.g., a physical barrier). In sports, it refers to both a collective team function and the players performing it.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: UK 'defence', US 'defense'. The verb is 'defend' in both. The derived adjective is 'defensive' in both.
Connotations
Identical in meaning and connotation; the difference is purely orthographic.
Frequency
The spelling 'defence' is standard in all UK, Irish, Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand contexts. 'Defense' is standard in the US. In international organizations, usage may vary by style guide.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
defence of [something/someone]defence against [something]in defenceVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The best defence is a good offence.”
- “A stout defence”
- “To spring to someone's defence”
- “A defence in depth”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to strategies or measures to protect against hostile takeovers, cyber-attacks, or reputational damage (e.g., 'The company bolstered its cyber defence').
Academic
Used in law, international relations, psychology (defence mechanisms), and military history (e.g., 'The study focused on medieval castle defences').
Everyday
Common in discussions about sports, personal safety, and justifying actions (e.g., 'I have no defence for being late').
Technical
In computing (network defence), engineering (blast defence), and biology (plant defence compounds).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The barrister will defend the accused.
- We must defend our shores.
American English
- The attorney will defend the accused.
- We must defend our shores.
adverb
British English
- The team played defensively in the second half.
- He answered defensively.
American English
- The team played defensively in the second half.
- He answered defensively.
adjective
British English
- The defensive line held firm.
- She gave a defensive reply.
American English
- The defensive line held firm.
- She gave a defensive reply.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The castle had a strong defence.
- He spoke in defence of his friend.
- The lawyer presented a convincing defence in court.
- The country spends a lot on national defence.
- The defence attorney's cross-examination weakened the prosecution's case.
- Their defensive strategy in the match was criticised as being too passive.
- The thesis mounts a robust defence of the often-maligned philosophical doctrine.
- Critics interpreted his essay not as an analysis but as an apologia, a thinly-veiled defence of the regime's actions.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a FENCE. A de-FENCE is what you put up 'de' (to) protect yourself, like a fence around your property.
Conceptual Metaphor
DEFENCE IS A SHIELD / WALL / FORTRESS. (e.g., 'He put up a wall of defence', 'The lawyer built a strong case').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'защита' in the sense of a 'screen protector' (это 'protective cover').
- In sports, 'defence' is 'защита' (collective function), but a 'defender' is 'защитник'.
- The legal term 'defence' corresponds to 'защита' (the case) or 'опровержение' (the rebuttal), not the person (адвокат).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'defence' as a verb (correct verb: 'defend').
- Misspelling: 'defence' in US context or 'defense' in UK context.
- Incorrect preposition: 'defence for' (usually 'defence of' or 'defence against').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the standard British English spelling?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Both are correct, but 'defence' is British English and 'defense' is American English. The spelling difference applies to the noun; the verb is always 'defend'.
'Defence' often implies an active response to a threat or attack. 'Protection' is broader, covering measures to keep something safe from any kind of harm, not necessarily an active attack.
Yes, it is very common in law (legal defence), sports (team defence), psychology (defence mechanisms), and everyday speech (speaking in defence of an idea).
It depends on context. Use 'defence of' (to indicate what is being protected) or 'defence against' (to indicate the threat). Example: 'A defence of free speech' vs. 'A defence against cyber attacks'.