defender Definition

defend
verb defended, defending

1. To guard or protect someone or something against attack or when attacked.

Thesaurus: protect, guard, shield, shelter, safeguard, screen, fortify, garrison; Antonym: yield, surrender, give up.
2. To explain, justify or argue in support of the actions of someone accused of doing wrong.

Thesaurus: plead for, justify, second, exonerate, support, back, vindicate, advocate, endorse, warrant.
3. To be the lawyer acting on behalf of (the accused) in a trial.
4. sport.
To try to prevent one's opponents from scoring.
5. sport.
To take part in a contest against a challenger for (a title, medal, etc one holds).

Derivative: defendable
adj

Derivative: defender
noun

Someone who defends against attack, especially in military and sporting contexts.

Etymology: 13c: from Latin defendere.