DEFENDER

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does defender mean? 

• DEFENDER (noun)
  The noun DEFENDER has 2 senses:

1. a person who cares for persons or property

2. a fighter who holds out against attack

  Familiarity information: DEFENDER used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DEFENDER (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A person who cares for persons or property

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

defender; guardian; protector; shielder

Hypernyms ("defender" is a kind of...):

preserver (someone who keeps safe from harm or danger)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "defender"):

admonisher; monitor; reminder (someone who gives a warning so that a mistake can be avoided)

bodyguard; escort (someone who escorts and protects a prominent person)

champion; fighter; hero; paladin (someone who fights for a cause)

chaperon; chaperone (one who accompanies and supervises a young woman or gatherings of young people)

custodian; keeper; steward (one having charge of buildings or grounds or animals)

fire-eater; fire fighter; firefighter; fireman (a member of a fire department who tries to extinguish fires)

foster-parent; foster parent (a person who acts as parent and guardian for a child in place of the child's natural parents but without legally adopting the child)

guard (a person who keeps watch over something or someone)

keeper (someone in charge of other people)

law officer; lawman; peace officer (an officer of the law)

patron saint (a saint who is considered to be a defender of some group or nation)

peacekeeper (someone who keeps peace)

tribune ((ancient Rome) an official elected by the plebeians to protect their interests)

watchdog (a guardian or defender against theft or illegal practices or waste)

Derivation:

defend (argue or speak in defense of)

defend (protect against a challenge or attack)

defend (protect or fight for as a champion)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A fighter who holds out against attack

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

defender; withstander

Hypernyms ("defender" is a kind of...):

battler; belligerent; combatant; fighter; scrapper (someone who fights (or is fighting))

 Context examples 

In the centre only things seemed to be going ill with the defenders.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

My first feeling of fear had passed away, and I thrilled now with a keener zest than I had ever enjoyed when we were the defenders of the law instead of its defiers.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Harrison was to be turned from the defender into the attacker.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

There was a round score of muskets for the seven of us; the firewood had been built into four piles—tables, you might say—one about the middle of each side, and on each of these tables some ammunition and four loaded muskets were laid ready to the hand of the defenders.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

He did not speak to her again till suppertime, when he saw her drinking champagne with Ned and his friend Fisher, who were behaving 'like a pair of fools', as Laurie said to himself, for he felt a brotherly sort of right to watch over the Marches and fight their battles whenever a defender was needed.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

A storm of stones broke suddenly upon the defenders, who, drawn up in lines upon the exposed summit, offered a fair mark to their hidden foes.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Amazed and dizzy, the defenders, clutching at the cracking parapets for support, saw great stones, burning beams of wood, and mangled bodies hurtling past them through the air.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The others gave back, and gathered in a half circle round the open door, gnashing their teeth and shaking their clenched hands at the defenders.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The wood had been soaked in oil, for in an instant it was ablaze, and a long, hissing, yellow flame licked over the heads of the defenders, and drove them further up to the first floor of the keep.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)