an outer defence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an outer defence" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a protective barrier or measure that is located on the outside of something, such as a structure or system. Example: "The castle was surrounded by an outer defence, including a moat and high walls, to protect it from invaders."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The first and greatest of these is the 56 km long Anastasian Wall (Gk., teichos Anastasiakon) or Long Wall (, makron teichos, or, megalē Souda), built in the mid-5th century as an outer defence to Constantinople, some 65 km westwards of the city.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

All contain an outer rind, or cortex.

The New York Times - Science

Valence's son, Aymer de Valence built an additional line of outer defences before his death in 1324, including the external barbican, inspired by that at the Tower of London, and for which the earlier Valence barbican at Pembroke may have been an experimental forerunner.

Wikipedia

The keep was surrounded by a curtain wall with probably four flanking towers and a fortified gatehouse protecting a relatively small bailey; these outer defences, rather than the keep, probably represented the main defences of the castle.

Wikipedia

Bergfriede, which take their name from the German for a belfry, had similarities to keeps, but are usually distinguished from them on account of Bergfriede having a smaller area or footprint, usually being non-residential and being typically integrated into the outer defences of a castle, rather than being a safe refuge of last resort.

Wikipedia

Although often the strongest part of a castle and a last place of refuge if the outer defences fell, the keep was not left empty in case of attack but was used as a residence by the lord who owned the castle, or his guests or representatives.

Wikipedia

An Afghan army spokesman told the BBC that a huge truck bomb damaged the outer defences of the US consulate, allowing the attackers to breach the perimeter and shoot at the consulate buildings.

BBC

Brough, guarded by six knights, put up a strong resistance, but William took the outer defences and then besieged the keep, threatening to execute the garrison if the castle was not surrendered.

Wikipedia

It was a still more alarming story at Fukushima, where the ocean surge engulfed the outer defences of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant and caused a level 7 meltdown.

The Guardian

Now that these police states have imploded, it's as if Europe's outer defences, its barbican, had, like Crac des Chevaliers itself, crumbled.

The Guardian - Opinion

Preservation of Isis depends on its powers of resistance and the strength of the forces now battering at its outer defences.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing layered security, use "an outer defence" to clearly distinguish the initial protective measures from inner, more critical safeguards.

Common error

Avoid using "an outer defence" when referring to the primary or only defense mechanism; reserve it for scenarios involving multiple layers of security.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an outer defence" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes a protective barrier or system that is positioned at the periphery, as evidenced by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Wiki

33%

News & Media

33%

Science

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "an outer defence" refers to a protective barrier or system located at the exterior, serving as a first line of protection. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, although its usage is relatively rare. It appears in diverse contexts, especially in news media and on Wikipedia. Alternatives include "an external barrier" or "a perimeter defense". When writing, reserve "an outer defence" for scenarios involving layered security, and ensure it accurately describes the initial protective measures.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an external defense

Replaces "outer" with "external", offering a direct synonym with similar connotations.

an exterior safeguard

Substitutes both "outer" and "defence" with synonyms, emphasizing the protective aspect.

an external protective measure

Expands on the idea of "defence" to clarify its role as a protective action.

a perimeter defense

Focuses on the spatial aspect of the defence being located around the edge.

a first line of defense

Highlights the order and strategic importance of the defense.

an initial security barrier

Emphasizes the security and barrier aspects, changing both adjectives and the noun.

an outward protection system

Uses "outward" instead of "outer" and rephrases defence as a protection system.

an advance guard

Refers to a military context, suggesting a forward-positioned defense.

a preliminary defense

Stresses the timing of the defense, suggesting it comes before others.

a superficial defense

Suggests that the defense is not thorough or deeply entrenched.

FAQs

How can I use "an outer defence" in a sentence?

Use "an outer defence" to describe a first line of protection or a perimeter security measure. For example: "The castle's "an outer defence" consisted of high walls and a deep moat."

What are some alternatives to saying "an outer defence"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "an external barrier", "a perimeter defense", or "a first line of defense".

Is it correct to say "outer defense" instead of "an outer defence"?

While "outer defense" might be understood, using "an outer defence" is grammatically preferable, especially when referring to a single, specific protective measure. Omission of the article 'an' makes the sentence less formally correct.

What's the difference between ""an outer defence"" and "an inner defence"?

"An outer defence" refers to the initial layer of protection, while "an inner defence" refers to subsequent layers designed to protect more critical assets or areas.