the defense
noun
law
: the lawyer or lawyers who represent the defendant in a court case
The defense rests, Your Honor.
Examples of the defense in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Miami trailed 1-0 fast, in the sixth minute, when the defense left Guilherme Biro unmarked for a downward header off a corner kick, gifting Biro the forever-history of the first goal in the new stadium.
—
Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
The state refuses to send the data to a lab capable of analyzing it, and refuses to give the defense its own copy of the data so it can be sent to the Texas lab.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2026
In the Broadview Six case, the defense argued in the motion Thursday the agent’s texts were another indication that people were paying attention to the arrests on a wider scale.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
The White House says the president wants to pair the defense increase with a 10% reduction in nondefense spending, partly through shifting some federal programs and responsibilities to state and local governments.
—Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the defense
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
The state refuses to send the data to a lab capable of analyzing it, and refuses to give the defense its own copy of the data so it can be sent to the Texas lab.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2026
In the Broadview Six case, the defense argued in the motion Thursday the agent’s texts were another indication that people were paying attention to the arrests on a wider scale.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
The White House says the president wants to pair the defense increase with a 10% reduction in nondefense spending, partly through shifting some federal programs and responsibilities to state and local governments.
—Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the defense
Cite this Entry
“The defense.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20defense. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
