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1 N‑COUNT If someone is a defender of a particular thing or person that has been criticized, they argue or act in support of that thing or person. □ [+ of ] …the most ardent defenders of conventional family values.

2 N‑COUNT A defender in a game such as football or hockey is a player whose main task is to try and stop the other side scoring.

de|fense /d I fe ns/ → see defence

de|fen|sible /d I fe ns I b ^ə l/ ADJ An opinion, system, or action that is defensible is one that people can argue is right or good. □  Her reasons for acting are morally defensible.

de|fen|sive /d I fe ns I v/

1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] You use defensive to describe things that are intended to protect someone or something. □  The Government hastily organized defensive measures against the raids.

2 ADJ Someone who is defensive is behaving in a way that shows they feel unsure or threatened. □  Like their children, parents are often defensive about their private lives. ●  de|fen|sive|ly ADV □  'Oh, I know, I know,' said Kate, defensively. ●  de|fen|sive|ness N‑UNCOUNT □  He felt a certain defensiveness about his position.

3 PHRASE If someone is on the defensive , they are trying to protect themselves or their interests because they feel unsure or threatened. □  Accusations are likely to put the other person on the defensive.

4 ADJ [usu ADJ n] In sports, defensive play is play that is intended to prevent your opponent from scoring goals or points against you. □  I'd always played a defensive game, waiting for my opponent to make a mistake. ●  de|fen|sive|ly ADV [ADV after v] □  Mexico did not play defensively.

de|fer /d I fɜː ^r / (defers , deferring , deferred )

1 VERB If you defer an event or action, you arrange for it to happen at a later date, rather than immediately or at the previously planned time. □ [V n/v-ing] Customers often defer payment for as long as possible.

2 VERB If you defer to someone, you accept their opinion or do what they want you to do, even when you do not agree with it yourself, because you respect them or their authority. □ [V + to ] Doctors are encouraged to defer to experts.

def|er|ence /de frəns/ N‑UNCOUNT Deference is a polite and respectful attitude towards someone, especially because they have an important position. □  The old sense of deference and restraint in royal reporting has vanished. [Also + to ]

def|er|en|tial /de fəre nʃ ^ə l/ ADJ Someone who is deferential is polite and respectful towards someone else. □  They like five-star hotels and deferential treatment. [Also + to ] ●  def|er|en|tial|ly ADV [ADV with v] □  The old man spoke deferentially.

de|fer|ment /d I fɜː ^r mənt/ (deferments ) N‑VAR Deferment means arranging for something to happen at a later date. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] …the deferment of debt repayments.

de|fer|ral /d I fɜː rəl/ (deferrals ) N‑VAR Deferral means the same as deferment .

de|fi|ance /d I fa I əns/

1 N‑UNCOUNT Defiance is behaviour or an attitude which shows that you are not willing to obey someone. □ [+ of ] …his courageous defiance of the government.

2 PHRASE If you do something in defiance of a person, rule, or law, you do it even though you know that you are not allowed to do it. □  Thousands of people have taken to the streets in defiance of the curfew.

de|fi|ant /d I fa I ənt/ ADJ If you say that someone is defiant , you mean they show aggression or independence by refusing to obey someone. □  The players are in defiant mood as they prepare for tomorrow's game. ●  de|fi|ant|ly ADV [usu ADV with v] □  They defiantly rejected any talk of a compromise.