What does DEFENSE mean?

noun

1. (military) military action or resources protecting a country against potential enemies“they died in the defense of Stalingrad”
2. protection from harm“sanitation is the best defense against disease”
3. (sports) the team that is trying to prevent the other team from scoring“his teams are always good on defense”
4. the justification for some act or belief“he offered a persuasive defense of the theory”
5. (psychiatry) an unconscious process that tries to reduce the anxiety associated with instinctive desires
6. the defendant and his legal advisors collectively“the defense called for a mistrial”
7. the speech act of answering an attack on your assertions“his refutation of the charges was short and persuasive”
8. an organization of defenders that provides resistance against attack“he joined the defense against invasion”