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
The Oscar-laden romantic fantasy launched a thousand pop culture satires, while Bradford marshaled the gay dialect of camp in defense of moral seriousness.
—
Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2024
Dershowitz, who has written passionately in defense of Israel’s political legitimacy, took an acknowledgment of Israeli wrongdoing to imply that Hamas’ response was morally right.
—Michael Blake, The Conversation, 31 May 2024
After the Star-Telegram published a story about the Lyles’ claims on April 18, multiple parents contacted the newspaper in defense of the Montessori School on Camp Bowie.
—Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 May 2024
The decision had angered his father, King Charles, and brother, Prince William, who had never put out a statement in defense of their partners.
—Solcyré Burga, TIME, 28 May 2024
Wildlife officials will not take any action against the bear, which was acting normally in defense of her cub, Jackson Hole News & Guide reported.
—Brooke Baitinger, Idaho Statesman, 24 May 2024
Democratic men need to speak up not in defense of others, but in defense of themselves.
—Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2024
Most comments came from Fort Worth ISD students speaking out against book banning and in defense of voices and representations of the LGBTQ community and people of color.
—Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 May 2024
Last year, a review by the Justice Department found that the FBI’s compliance rate hovered around 98 percent, a figure that Wray and other FBI officials have touted frequently in defense of the program.
—Dell Cameron and William Turton, WIRED, 8 May 2024
Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2024
Dershowitz, who has written passionately in defense of Israel’s political legitimacy, took an acknowledgment of Israeli wrongdoing to imply that Hamas’ response was morally right.
—Michael Blake, The Conversation, 31 May 2024
After the Star-Telegram published a story about the Lyles’ claims on April 18, multiple parents contacted the newspaper in defense of the Montessori School on Camp Bowie.
—Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 May 2024
The decision had angered his father, King Charles, and brother, Prince William, who had never put out a statement in defense of their partners.
—Solcyré Burga, TIME, 28 May 2024
Wildlife officials will not take any action against the bear, which was acting normally in defense of her cub, Jackson Hole News & Guide reported.
—Brooke Baitinger, Idaho Statesman, 24 May 2024
Democratic men need to speak up not in defense of others, but in defense of themselves.
—Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2024
Most comments came from Fort Worth ISD students speaking out against book banning and in defense of voices and representations of the LGBTQ community and people of color.
—Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 May 2024
Last year, a review by the Justice Department found that the FBI’s compliance rate hovered around 98 percent, a figure that Wray and other FBI officials have touted frequently in defense of the program.
—Dell Cameron and William Turton, WIRED, 8 May 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'in defense of (something or someone).' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near 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 9 Jun. 2024.
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