in defense of (something or someone)

idiom

variants or in something's or someone's defense

1

: in order to keep (something) safe that is being physically attacked

They fought in defense of their country.

2

: in support of (someone or something) that is being verbally attacked or criticized

She spoke out in defense of justice.

Let me say, in her defense, that I would have done the same thing that she did.

He spoke up in his own defense.

Examples of in defense of (something or someone) in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Over the weekend, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who had polio as a child, spoke out in defense of the polio vaccine after a recent report disclosed that one of Kennedy’s advisors filed a petition to revoke approval for the polio vaccine in 2022. —Michelle L. Price and Adriana Gomez Licon, Los Angeles Times, 16 Dec. 2024

Then, in short order, Azov were treated to their own glorification process, rebranded as Freedom Fighters battling the Russian hordes in defense of liberal values. —Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024

Despite the uproar, CThaGod remained in defense of his friend, emphasizing that comedy should be a space where all groups can be joked about and there should be no boundaries in humor. —Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 9 Dec. 2024

For the Republican senators who are required to approve nominees for senior posts in the upcoming Administration, extremism in defense of Trump has proved to be no obstacle whatsoever. —Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 6 Dec. 2024