the action of defending from or resisting attack

methods of defence against this kind of attack

she came to the defence of the eccentric professor

he spoke in defence of a disciplined approach

the case presented by or on behalf of the party accused of a crime or being sued in a civil lawsuit

the farmer's defence was that he intended only to wound the thief

(in sport) the action or role of defending one's goal or wicket against the opposition

Wolves were pressed back into defence