defend

Defend is a verb with several related meanings centered on protection, support, or resistance. It can mean to protect someone or something from harm or danger, to uphold or safeguard a position or claim, or to argue in support of a person, idea, or policy. In sports and military contexts, to defend a territory or goal means to ward off attacks and prevent the opponent from scoring or advancing.

The word defend originates from Latin defendere, through Old French defendre, and entered English in the medieval period. Its sense of shielding or warding off extended to abstract uses, such as defending a legal case or a claim.

Usage notes: Defend takes a direct object in most senses (defend someone or something) or a clause that describes the position to be upheld. In law, to defend a client or case means to represent or argue on behalf of them; in academia, to defend a thesis or argument means to justify it against challenges. In everyday language, people defend themselves against accusations or defend their home against intruders; in sports, teams defend a lead or a title by maintaining position.

Related terms include defense (the noun form), defensive (adjective), and defender (one who defends).