defense
dih-FENS
/dɪˈfɛns/
The case presented by or on behalf of the party accused or sued in a lawsuit. Also, the party making this case.
Refers to the legal strategy and arguments used to protect the defendant, or the legal team itself (defense attorneys).
The story behind the word. The word 'defense' comes from the Old French 'defense,' which itself is derived from the Latin 'defensa,' meaning 'a defending.' This ultimately traces back to 'defendere,' meaning 'to ward off, protect.' In a courtroom, the defense's primary role is to 'ward off' the accusations and 'protect' the defendant from conviction.
Word relationships
- justification: A general term for providing reasons for an action, not necessarily a legal argument against charges.
- plea: A formal statement of guilt or innocence, a component of the defense's overall strategy.
- prosecution: The legal party bringing charges against the defendant.
Commonly confused with
- offense: 'Defense' is the act of protecting or arguing against charges. An 'offense' is a breach of a law or rule, or the act of attacking.
Word family
- defend (verb): to resist an attack made on (someone or something); to speak or write in favor of (an idea, action, or person).
- defendant (noun): an individual, company, or institution sued or accused in a court of law.
- defensive (adjective): used or intended to defend or protect.
Collocations
- strong defense
- weak defense
- legal defense
- defense attorney
- defense strategy
Idioms & expressions
- in one's own defense
Example sentences
- "The defense argued that the evidence was circumstantial and did not conclusively prove the defendant's guilt." Referring to the legal strategy.
- "The defense team worked tirelessly to prepare their closing arguments, hoping to sway the jury." Referring to the legal team.
Memory hook
The 'DEFENSE' is the team that 'DEFENDS' the accused. DEFENDS the accused
When not to use
While 'defense' can refer to protecting oneself generally, in a legal context, it specifically refers to the arguments and actions taken by the defendant's legal team.
Fun facts
- The Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right to legal counsel for one's defense in criminal cases.
- A 'plea of self-defense' is a common legal argument used to justify actions taken to protect oneself from harm.
Related words
Also appears in
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