Definition of defense noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

defense

noun

/dɪˈfens/

(US English)

(British English defence)

protection against attack

[uncountable] the act of protecting somebody/something from attack, criticism, etc.

in defense of somebody/something soldiers who died in defense of their country
What points can be raised in defense of this argument?
in somebody's defense I have to say in her defense that she knew nothing about it beforehand.
When her brother was criticized she leapt to his defense.
leap/spring/jump/rush to the defense of somebody/something

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[countable, uncountable] something that provides protection against attack from enemies, the weather, illness, etc.

They are responsible for maintaining coastal flood defenses.
At this point the country had no effective air defenses.
defense against something The town walls were built as a defense against enemy attacks.
a new missile defense system (= for defense against missiles)

Topics War and conflictb2

[uncountable] the organization of the people and systems that are used by a government to protect a country from attack

[countable] something that is said or written in order to support something

[countable, usually singular] what is said in court to prove that a person did not commit a crime; the act of presenting this argument in court

Her defense was that she was somewhere completely different at the time of the crime.
He wanted to conduct his own defense.
The judge rejected her insanity defense.

[singular + singular or plural verb] the lawyer or lawyers whose job is to prove in court that a person did not commit a crime