· (psychiatry) an unconscious process that tries to reduce the anxiety associated with instinctive desires

Synonym(s): defense_mechanism, defense_reaction, defence_mechanism, defence_reaction, defense

Hypernym(s): psychoanalytic_process, process, unconscious_process

· (sports) the team that is trying to prevent the other team from scoring; "his teams are always good on defense"

Synonym(s): defense, defending_team

Hypernym(s): team, squad

Antonym(s): offence

· the defendant and his legal advisors collectively; "the defense called for a mistrial"

Synonym(s): defense, defense_team, defense_lawyers

Hypernym(s): collection, aggregation, accumulation, assemblage

· an organization of defenders that provides resistance against attack; "he joined the defense against invasion"

Synonym(s): defense, defense_force, defence_force

Hypernym(s): organization, organisation

· 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"

Synonym(s): refutation, defense

Hypernym(s): answer

· the justification for some act or belief; "he offered a persuasive defense of the theory"

Synonym(s): defense, vindication

Hypernym(s): justification

· a structure used to defend against attack; "the artillery battered down the defenses"

Synonym(s): defensive_structure, defense

Hypernym(s): structure, construction

· a defendant's answer or plea denying the truth of the charges against him; "he gave evidence for the defense"

Synonym(s): defense, denial, demurrer

Hypernym(s): due_process, due_process_of_law

· (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"

Synonym(s): defense, defensive_measure

Hypernym(s): military_action, action

· protection from harm; "sanitation is the best defense against disease"

Synonym(s): defense

Hypernym(s): protection

· 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"

Synonym(s): defense

Hypernym(s): protection