# defence

> English word · Noun · IPA /dɪˈfɛns/ · frequency rank #2,940

## Definitions
1. The action of defending, of protecting from attack, danger or injury.
2. Something used to oppose attacks.
3. An argument in support or justification of something.
4. A strategy and tactics employed to prevent the other team from scoring; contrasted with offence.
5. The portion of a team dedicated to preventing the other team from scoring; contrasted with offence.
6. Government policy or (infra)structure related to the military.
7. Prohibition; a prohibitory ordinance.

## Etymology
From Middle English defens, defense, from Old French defens, defense, from Late Latin dēfēnsa (“protection”). Displaced Old English bewering.

## Easily confused with
- **defend** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/defence-vs-defend)
- **define** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/defence-vs-define)
- **defense** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/defence-vs-defense)
- **defunct** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/defence-vs-defunct)
- **defender** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/defence-vs-defender)
- **defended** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/defence-vs-defended)
- **defiance** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/defence-vs-defiance)
- **deference** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/defence-vs-deference)
- **defect** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/defect-vs-defence)
- **decency** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/decency-vs-defence)

## Common misspellings (11)
`ddefence`, `deefnce`, `defance`, `defecne`, `defencce`, `defenec`, `defennce`, `deffence`, `defnece`, `dfeence`, `edfence`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/defence