defend

USAGE SUMMARY

"defend" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to express the concept of protecting something or someone, either physically or argumentatively. Example: The lawyer defended his client's innocence in court.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I want to promote marriage, defend marriage, encourage marriage.

The Guardian

Turning to English, she added: "United and determined, we can defend our European economic and social model in the world.

The Guardian

I couldn't defend myself.

The Guardian

Some of them love human dignity so much that they are ready to legalise torture to defend it.

The Guardian

While the company, currently valued at almost $90bn, is used to battling threats to its reputation, having to defend its globally recognised brand on two fronts is an unwelcome novelty that the company could do without, according to experts.

The Guardian - Sport

LD 42.7%, Con 40%, Lab 7%, Ukip 3.7%, BNP 2.2% Seats where tactical voting by Labour supporters for Lib Dems and Ukip could help the Lib Dems defend seats: St Ives Liberal Democrat majority 1,719 20100).

The Guardian

1) Defend what we do against governments and other external interests with vigour and courage.

The Guardian

It will take a monumental effort to defend this total.

The Guardian - Sport

Seeking to defend his own Jaguar console, he said "You can't have the Japanese consumer paying a fattened dollar price, then subsidise the product and dump it in the United States for $249 and kill the U.S. manufacturers.

The Guardian - Tech

The easiest thing in the game is to defend, anybody can do that.

The Guardian - Sport

You have already provided suggestions of how Gordon Brown might save himself after yesterday's "bigot" gaffe, but will he successfully defend Labour's record on the financial crisis?

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Choose synonyms like "protect" or "safeguard" to add variety and nuance to your writing, especially when repeating the concept of defense multiple times.

Common error

Avoid using "defend" without specifying what is being defended or the nature of the threat. For instance, instead of saying "The policy was defended", clarify with "The policy was defended against criticism from stakeholders."

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "defend" is as a transitive verb. It requires a direct object, indicating what or whom is being protected or supported. Ludwig examples demonstrate this usage in contexts ranging from physical defense to argumentative support. Ludwig AI confirms that is a correct and usable verb.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The verb "defend" is a versatile term used to express the act of protecting something or someone from harm or criticism. Ludwig AI confirms that it is a correct and frequently used word across various contexts. Grammatically, it functions as a transitive verb, requiring a direct object. Its communicative purpose is to assert protection or support, and its register is generally neutral, making it suitable for both formal and informal settings. As demonstrated by Ludwig, "defend" commonly appears in "News & Media", "Formal & Business", and scientific contexts. When writing, ensure the context clarifies what is being defended and from what, and consider using synonyms like "protect", "guard", or "uphold" to add variety to your language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Protect

Focuses on shielding from harm or damage.

Safeguard

Stresses ensuring the safety and security of something.

Guard

Implies vigilance and active prevention of attack.

Secure

Implies making something safe and protected from threats.

Shield

Suggests interposing something between a threat and the thing being protected.

Uphold

Emphasizes supporting or maintaining something, often a principle or law.

Stand up for

Indicates publicly supporting or defending someone or something.

Advocate

Highlights active support and promotion of a cause or idea.

Justify

Focuses on providing reasons or evidence to support something.

Vindicate

Suggests clearing someone of blame or suspicion through proof.

FAQs

How can I use "defend" in a sentence?

"Defend" can be used to describe protecting something from attack, like "The soldiers had to defend the city", or supporting an argument, like "The lawyer will defend his client in court".

What are some synonyms for "defend"?

Depending on the context, you can use synonyms such as "protect", "guard", "uphold", or "advocate".

Is it correct to say "defend for" instead of "defend"?

No, it is generally incorrect to say "defend for". You would usually "defend" something or someone directly, or "defend against" something.

What is the difference between "defend" and "justify"?

"Defend" implies protecting something from attack or criticism, while "justify" means to show or prove to be right or reasonable. You might defend a policy by justifying its merits.