defender

UK: /dɪˈfɛndə^r/

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

de•fend /dɪˈfɛnd/   v. [ ~ + obj]

1. ward off attack from;
   protect:
   The armed forces defend our country.
2. to support or maintain by argument, evidence, etc.;
   uphold:
   He defended the principle of freedom of the press.
3. Law to serve as attorney for (a defendant) in a trial:
   defended her clients against the charge of conspiracy.
4. to attempt to retain (a championship title) in competition against a challenger.

de•fend•er, n. [countable]
Related Words

defend is a verb, defense is a noun, defensive is an adjective:
The lawyer agreed to defend the murder suspect. The team's defense kept a lot of points from being scored. He seems defensive when you ask him what's wrong.
See -fend-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

de•fend  (di fend′), v.t. 

1. to ward off attack from;
   guard against assault or injury (usually fol. by from or against):
   The sentry defended the gate against sudden attack.
2. to maintain by argument, evidence, etc.;
   uphold:
   She defended her claim successfully.
3. to contest (a legal charge, claim, etc.).
4. Law to serve as attorney for (a defendant):
   He has defended some of the most notorious criminals.
5. to support (an argument, theory, etc.) in the face of criticism;
   prove the validity of (a dissertation, thesis, or the like) by answering arguments and questions put by a committee of specialists.
6. to attempt to retain (a championship title, position, etc.), as in a competition against a challenger.

v.i. 

7. Law to enter or make a defense.

• Latin dēfendere to ward off, equivalent. to dē- de- + -fendere to strike
• Old French defendre
• Middle English defenden 1200–50

de•fend′a•ble, adj. 
de•fend′er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. shelter, screen, shield; garrison, fortify.
  Defend, guard, preserve, protect all mean to keep safe. To defend is to strive to keep safe by resisting attack:
  to defend one's country.
  To guard is to watch over in order to keep safe:
  to guard a camp.
  To preserve is to keep safe in the midst of danger, either in a single instance or continuously:
  to preserve a spirit of conciliation.
  To protect is to keep safe by interposing a shield or barrier:
  to protect books by means of heavy paper covers.
• 2. vindicate.

Antonyms

• 1. attack.