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
An additional 188 Democrats voted in defense of Tlaib.
—
Michael Graham, Boston Herald, 6 June 2025
Now, Lyonne has invoked the late director David Lynch in defense of her AI experiment.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
As the sidelines cleared and the entire team rushed the field, though, Hudson took the opportunity to charge back into the fray and shove Thibodeaux in defense of Eluemunor.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 5 June 2025
Other users criticized Paul's take, in defense of Trump.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for in defense of (something or someone)
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Michael Graham, Boston Herald, 6 June 2025
Now, Lyonne has invoked the late director David Lynch in defense of her AI experiment.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
As the sidelines cleared and the entire team rushed the field, though, Hudson took the opportunity to charge back into the fray and shove Thibodeaux in defense of Eluemunor.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 5 June 2025
Other users criticized Paul's take, in defense of Trump.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for in defense of (something or someone)
Cite this Entry
“In defense of (something or someone).” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20defense%20of%20%28something%20or%20someone%29. Accessed 22 Jun. 2025.
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