defence

Noun defence has 11 senses

• defence(n = noun.process) defence mechanism, defence reaction, defense, defense mechanism, defense reaction - (psychiatry) an unconscious process that tries to reduce the anxiety associated with instinctive desires; Array
is a kind of process, unconscious process, psychoanalytic process
has particulars: compensation, conversion, denial, displacement, idealisation, idealization, intellectualisation, intellectualization, isolation, projection, rationalisation, rationalization, reaction formation, regression, repression

• defence(n = noun.group) defending team, defense - (sports) the team that is trying to prevent the other team from scoring; "his teams are always good on defense"
is a kind of squad, team
Derived form verb defend₂
Antonym: offence

• defence(n = noun.group) defense, defense lawyers, defense team - the defendant and his legal advisors collectively; "the defense called for a mistrial"
is a kind of accumulation, aggregation, assemblage, collection
Derived form verb defend₆

• defence(n = noun.group) defence force, defense, defense force - an organization of defenders that provides resistance against attack; "he joined the defense against invasion"
is a kind of organisation, organization
has particulars: bastion
Derived form verb defend₃

• defence(n = noun.communication) defense, refutation - the speech act of answering an attack on your assertions; "his refutation of the charges was short and persuasive"; "in defense he said the other man started it"
is a kind of answer
has particulars: confutation, rebuttal

• defence(n = noun.communication) defense, vindication - the justification for some act or belief; "he offered a persuasive defense of the theory"
is a kind of justification
has particulars: apologia, apology, alibi, alibi, exculpation, excuse, self-justification
Derived form verb defend₁

• defence(n = noun.artifact) defense, defensive structure - a structure used to defend against attack; "the artillery battered down the defenses"
has particulars: cheval-de-frise, chevaux-de-frise, fortification, munition, fort, fortress, line of defence, line of defense, outwork, fastness, stronghold
is a kind of construction, structure

• defence(n = noun.act) defense, demurrer, denial - a defendant's answer or plea denying the truth of the charges against him; "he gave evidence for the defense"
is a kind of due process, due process of law
is a part of trial
has particulars: entrapment

• defence(n = noun.act) defense, defensive measure - (military) military action or resources protecting a country against potential enemies; "they died in the defense of Stalingrad"; "they were developed for the defense program"
has particulars: umbrella, air defense, stand, hasty defence, hasty defense, deliberate defence, deliberate defense, biodefence, biodefense, biological defence, biological defense, chemical defence, chemical defense, minelaying, mining, biological warfare defence, biological warfare defense, bw defence, bw defense
is a kind of action, military action

• defence(n = noun.act) defense - protection from harm; "sanitation is the best defense against disease"
is a kind of protection

• defence(n = noun.act) defense - the act of defending someone or something against attack or injury; "a good boxer needs a good defense"; "defense against hurricanes is an urgent problem"
is a kind of protection