defence
defence — noun
1. the action of keeping someone or something safe from physical attack, harm, dang
the action of keeping someone or something safe from physical attack, harm, danger, or unfair criticism
The soldiers fought bravely in defence of their country during the war.
in defence of [country]
Élise spoke up in defence of her colleague when the manager blamed him unfairly.
speak up in defence of [person]
The community centre provides classes on self-defence for women living in the area.
Adaeze wrote a newspaper article in defence of the new library opening hours.
- protection
broader term, not limited to active resistance
- safeguarding
more formal, emphasises preventive measures
- attack
the opposing action to defence
文法句型
in defence of [someone/something]
defence of [someone/something]
用法筆記
Often followed by 'of' to indicate what or who is being protected. The compound 'self-defence' refers specifically to protecting oneself from physical violence.
常見錯誤
2. something such as a wall, barrier, substance, or system that stops something dan
something such as a wall, barrier, substance, or system that stops something dangerous from reaching or harming someone or something
The castle had thick stone walls that were a strong defence against attacking armies.
defence against [enemy]
Eating fruit and vegetables helps build your body's natural defence against colds and flu.
natural defence against [illness]
Villagers built a flood defence of sandbags along the riverbank before the storm arrived.
The animal's thick fur coat serves as a defence against freezing winter temperatures.
- shield
more concrete, often a physical object
- barrier
emphasises blocking access rather than active protection
- protection
more general term for anything that keeps someone safe
文法句型
defence against [threat]
[adjective] defence
用法筆記
Commonly followed by 'against' to specify the threat being blocked. In biology, 'defence' often refers to the body's immune response.
3. the military forces, weapons, systems, and government organisations that a count
the military forces, weapons, systems, and government organisations that a country uses to protect itself against enemy attack
The government announced a plan to increase defence spending by five percent next year.
defence spending
Nikhil works for a company that builds communication systems for the Ministry of Defence.
Ministry of Defence (title)
Several countries signed a defence agreement to protect their shared border.
The defence minister visited the naval base to inspect the new warships.
- national security
broader concept that includes non-military threats
- military
refers specifically to the armed forces, not the whole system
文法句型
defence [noun]
defence of [country]
用法筆記
When used as a modifier before a noun (e.g., 'defence minister', 'defence budget'), it functions like an adjective. The British spelling 'defence' is used; the American equivalent is 'defense'.
常見錯誤
4. a spoken or written statement that explains why a particular idea, action, or pe
a spoken or written statement that explains why a particular idea, action, or person is right or good, especially after it has been criticised or attacked
The professor wrote a detailed defence of his research after other scientists questioned his methods.
defence of [action]
Wei published a passionate defence of renewable energy in the local newspaper last week.
The company's defence of its decision to raise prices did little to calm angry customers.
Hamza's speech at the conference was a strong defence of free speech and open debate.
- justification
stronger emphasis on proving something is right
- support
broader, less formal
- argument
can be neutral; defence implies taking a side
- criticism
an attack on an idea or action
文法句型
defence of [idea/person/action]
in defence of [something]
用法筆記
Typically followed by 'of' + the person or thing being supported. Unlike sense 1, this meaning focuses on verbal or written justification rather than physical protection.
5. a reason or set of reasons that someone gives to explain why they should not be
a reason or set of reasons that someone gives to explain why they should not be blamed for something wrong or illegal that happened
His defence was that he was at home watching television during the bank robbery.
[possessive] defence was that...
Tiredness after a long shift is no defence for making dangerous mistakes at work.
no defence for [wrongdoing]
Reuben's only defence was that the train had been delayed by two hours.
The defendant's lawyer prepared a defence based on three witnesses who saw him elsewhere.
- alibi
specifically a claim of being elsewhere at the time; narrower than defence
- plea
formal legal term for a defendant's answer to charges
- explanation
neutral term without the implication of innocence
- accusation
a claim that someone is guilty
文法句型
[possessive] defence is/was that...
someone's defence
no defence
用法筆記
Often followed by a that-clause explaining the reasoning. This sense can apply both inside and outside a courtroom; compare with sense 6, which is restricted to formal court proceedings.
常見錯誤
6. the lawyers, arguments, and evidence that work together in a court of law to sho
the lawyers, arguments, and evidence that work together in a court of law to show that someone accused of a crime is not guilty
The defence called three expert witnesses to support their case in court.
the defence called [witnesses]
The jury listened carefully to the defence before they began their discussions.
Anong's lawyer spent six months preparing the defence before the trial finally began.
The defence lawyer asked the witness several questions about what she had seen that night.
- legal team
focuses on the people rather than the case
- case for the defence
makes explicit that this is the argument presented
- prosecution
the side that tries to prove guilt
文法句型
the defence + verb
the defence [noun]
用法筆記
In formal legal contexts, 'the defence' can refer collectively to the legal team, the case they present, or both. It functions as a singular noun even though it represents multiple people.
常見錯誤
7. In a court of law, the individual or group accused of a crime, together with the
In a court of law, the individual or group accused of a crime, together with the lawyers who represent them.
The defence argued that the DNA evidence had been mishandled by the police laboratory.
the + defence + verb of arguing (argue, claim, maintain)
Lakshmi's defence team spent six months reviewing every document in the case.
possessive + defence team
The judge allowed the defence to call three more witnesses before the trial ended.
Before the jury began its discussion, the defence presented a powerful closing statement.
- legal team
emphasises the group of lawyers rather than the accused person themselves
- prosecution
the lawyers who try to prove the accused person is guilty
用法筆記
Usually treated as a singular uncountable noun. In American English the spelling is 'defense'.
常見錯誤
8. In football, basketball, and similar sports, the set of players responsible for
In football, basketball, and similar sports, the set of players responsible for preventing the opposing side from adding to their score.
The team's defence has been excellent this season, conceding only eight goals in fifteen matches.
possessive + defence + performance verb (has been, played, struggled)
Mauricio usually plays in defence, but his coach put him in midfield for the final.
plays in defence
A strong defence is just as important as a good attack in winning a championship.
Putri's excellent positioning helped the defence clear the ball from danger.
- backline
used mainly in football and rugby for the defensive players positioned furthest back
- defensive unit
more formal, often used by commentators and analysts
用法筆記
Can take a singular or plural verb depending on whether the group is viewed as a unit or as individual players. American spelling: 'defense'.
9. In chess, a recognised series of opening plays adopted by the player who handles
In chess, a recognised series of opening plays adopted by the player who handles the dark pieces, usually bearing the name of its inventor or the location where it became famous.
Baraka opened with the Sicilian Defence, a bold move that put pressure on white's centre.
the [Name] Defence — proper noun capitalisation pattern
The Petrov Defence is popular among club players because it leads to balanced positions.
Wei studied the French Defence for months before using it in the regional championship.
Gita chose the Caro–Kann Defence because she wanted a solid and safe position.
- opening
general term for both colours; 'defence' specifically refers to black's response to white's first move
用法筆記
The name of the defence is always capitalised because it is treated as a proper noun (e.g. 'Caro–Kann Defence', 'Pirc Defence'). This term applies only to the player with the black pieces; white's equivalent is simply called an 'opening'.