First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
defend
verb de·fend \di-ˈfend\
: to fight in order to keep (someone or something) safe : to not allow a person or thing to hurt, damage, or destroy (someone or something)
: to fight or work hard in order to keep (something, such as a right, interest, cause, etc.) from being taken away
: to speak or write in support of (someone or something that is being challenged or criticized)
Full Definition of DEFEND
transitive verb
1
a : to drive danger or attack away from <defend our shores> b (1) : to maintain or support in the face of argument or hostile criticism <defend a theory> (2) : to prove (as a doctoral thesis) valid by answering questions in an oral exam c : to attempt to prevent an opponent from scoring at <elects to defend the south goal>
3
: to act as attorney for
4
: to deny or oppose the right of a plaintiff in regard to (a suit or a wrong charged) : contest
5
: to retain or seek to retain (as a title or position) against a challenge in a contest <they successfully defended their championship>
intransitive verb
1
: to take action against attack or challenge
2
: to play or be on defense <playing deep to defend against a pass>
3
: to play against the high bidder in a card game
— de·fend·able \ˈfen-də-bəl\ adjective
See defend defined for English-language learners
See defend defined for kids
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Origin of DEFEND
Middle English, from Anglo-French defendre, from Latin defendere, from de- + -fendere to strike; akin to Old English gūth battle, war, Greek theinein to strike
Related to DEFEND
Synonym Discussion of DEFEND
defend, protect, shield, guard, safeguard mean to keep secure from danger or against attack. defend denotes warding off actual or threatened attack <defend the country>. protect implies the use of something (as a covering) as a bar to the admission or impact of what may attack or injure <a hard hat to protect your head>. shield suggests protective intervention in imminent danger or actual attack <shielded her eyes from the sun with her hand>. guard implies protecting with vigilance and force against expected danger <White House entrances are well guarded>. safeguard implies taking precautionary protective measures against merely possible danger <our civil liberties must be safeguarded>.
synonyms see in addition maintain
Rhymes with DEFEND
addend, amend, append, ascend, attend, bartend, befriend, Big Bend, bookend, boyfriend, closed-end, commend, compend, contend, dead end, dead-end, depend, descend, distend, downtrend, emend, expend, extend, fag end, forfend, front-end, girlfriend, Gravesend, headend, high-end, hornblende, impend, intend, Land's End, loose end, low-end, missend, misspend, next friend, no end, offend, on end, Ostend, outspend, perpend, pitchblende, portend, pretend, propend, protend, rear-end, resend, sheet bend, South Bend, split end, stipend, subtend, suspend, tag end, tail end, tight end, top-end, transcend, unbend, unkenned, upend, uptrend, weekend, year-end
DEFEND Defined for Kids
defend
verb de·fend \di-ˈfend\
de·fend·edde·fend·ing
Definition of DEFEND for Kids
1
: to protect from danger or attack
2
: to act or speak in favor of when others are opposed <She defended her teacher against the class's complaints.>
Synonym Discussion of DEFEND
defend, protect, and safeguard mean to keep safe. defend is used for a danger or an attack that is actual or threatening. <The soldiers defended the fort against enemy troops.> protect is used when some kind of shield can prevent possible attack or injury. <Protect your eyes with dark glasses.> safeguard is used when a course of action can protect against a possible danger. <The health rules help safeguard the students from disease.>
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