- defense mechanism, defense reaction, defence mechanism, defence reaction, defense, defence - (psychiatry) an unconscious process that tries to reduce the anxiety associated with instinctive desires
--1 is a kind of psychoanalytic process; process, unconscious process
--1 has particulars: - defense, defence, defending team - (sports) the team that is trying to prevent the other team from scoring; "his teams are always good on defense"
--2 is a kind of team, squad
Antonyms: offense, offence
Derived form: verb defend2 - defense, defence, defense team, defense lawyers - the defendant and his legal advisors collectively; "the defense called for a mistrial"
--3 is a kind of collection, aggregation, accumulation, assemblage
Derived form: verb defend6 - defense, defence, defense force, defence force - an organization of defenders that provides resistance against attack; "he joined the defense against invasion"
--4 is a kind of organization, organisation
--4 has particulars: bastionDerived form: verb defend3 - refutation, defense, defence - the speech act of answering an attack on your assertions; "his refutation of the charges was short and persuasive"; "in defense he said the other man started it"
--5 is a kind of answer
--5 has particulars: confutation; rebuttal - defense, defence, vindication - the justification for some act or belief; "he offered a persuasive defense of the theory"
--6 is a kind of justification
--6 has particulars:apology, apologia; alibi; excuse, alibi, exculpation, self-justification Derived form: verb defend1 - defensive structure, defense, defence - a structure used for defense; "the artillery battered down the defenses"
--7 is a kind of structure, construction
--7 has particulars:cheval-de-frise, chevaux-de-frise; fortification, munition; fortress, fort; line of defense, line of defence; outwork; stronghold, fastness - defense, defence, denial, demurrer - a defendant's answer or plea denying the truth of the charges against him; "he gave evidence for the defense"
--8 is a kind of due process, due process of law
--8 is a part of trial
--8 has particulars: entrapment - defense, defence, defensive measure - military action or resources protecting a country against potential enemies; "they died in the defense of Stalingrad"; "they were developed for the defense program"
--9 is a kind of military action, action
--9 has particulars: - defense, defence - protection from harm; "sanitation is the best defense against disease"
--10 is a kind of protection