n. (US defense) 1 the act of defending from or resisting attack. 2 a a means of resisting attack. b a thing that protects. c the military resources of a country. 3 (in pl.) fortifications. 4 a justification, vindication. b a speech or piece of writing used to this end. 5 a the defendant's case in a lawsuit. b the counsel for the defendant. 6 a the action or role of defending one's goal etc. against attack. b the players in a team who perform this role. defence mechanism 1 the body's reaction against disease organisms. 2 a usu. unconscious mental process to avoid conscious conflict or anxiety. defenceless adj. defencelessly adv. defencelessness n.
[ ME f. OF defens(e) f. LL defensum, -a, past part. of defendere: see DEFEND ]