defence — OET

defence

noun

1 the defence of fortresses against enemies:

protection, shielding, safeguarding, guarding;

security, fortification, cover, shelter, screen, resistance, deterrent.

2 the enemy's defences were sited all along the ridge:

barricade, fortification, bulwark, buttress, fortress, fastness, keep, rampart, outpost, bastion.

3 he planned to speak in defence of his old chief:

vindication, justification, support, advocacy, approval, endorsement, promotion;

apology, apologia, explanation, explication, excuse, extenuation, exoneration, palliation.

4 they urged lower spending on defence:

armaments, weapons, weaponry, arms, military resources/measures;

the military, the army, the navy, the air force;

deterrence.

5 the prisoner was unable to speak for pain, so his defence was never heard:

rebuttal, denial;

vindication, explanation, mitigation, justification, rationalization, excuse, alibi, reason;

plea, pleading;

testimony, declaration, case.

defence Oxford Dictionary of English