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Meaning & use

defender

noun·Everyday

Last updated

UK/dɪˈfɛndə/
US/dəˈfɛndər/

Meanings

  1. nouncountable

    A person who protects someone or something from harm, attack, or blame.

    Grammar: Countable; often followed by of or against.

    Patterns

    • defender of something
    • defender against attack
    • a brave defender

    She became a defender of local libraries after budget cuts.

    The defenders repaired the wall before nightfall.

    He presented himself as a defender of free speech.

  2. nouncountablesport

    In team sports, a player whose main job is to stop the other team from scoring.

    Grammar: A position in football/soccer, hockey, basketball, and similar games.

    Patterns

    • a central defender
    • defender and midfielder
    • mark a defender closely

    The central defender cleared the ball off the line.

    Their best defender was injured before the final.

    The winger ran past two defenders and scored.

  3. nouncountablelegal

    A lawyer or advocate who represents an accused person or argues for a cause in court.

    Grammar: Common in legal phrases such as public defender; broader than sports.

    Patterns

    • public defender
    • court-appointed defender
    • defender of the accused

    The public defender asked for more time to review the files.

    A defender questioned the reliability of the witness.

    She worked as a defender in juvenile court.

Word forms

pluraldefenders

Common combinations

brave defender
A brave defender stood between the crowd and the gate.
defender of rights
He is known as a defender of voting rights.
central defender
The central defender won every header in the box.

Synonyms and how they differ

protector
Protector emphasizes shielding from danger; defender can also argue for an idea.
guardian
Guardian suggests legal or caring responsibility, not only active protection.
advocate
Advocate argues publicly for a cause; defender may fight attackers physically too.

Opposites

attackeraccuser

Word family

defend verb
To protect, support, or argue in favor of someone or something.
defense noun
Protection against attack or the case made by a defendant.
defensive adjective
Used for protecting or too ready to justify oneself.

Commonly confused: defender or defendant? defender or offender?

defender vs defendant

A defendant is the person being sued or tried; a defender protects or represents that person.

defender vs offender

An offender breaks a rule or law; a defender protects or supports.

Practice

In which sentence is “defender” a sports player?

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