How to pronounce defense
Say it like dih-FENS. Defense has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FENS).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce defense. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dih
- FENS
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Defense pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- dihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- FENSSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of defense
American and British speakers say defense in essentially the same way: /dɪˈfɛns/ in the US and /dɪˈfɛns/ in the UK.
British respelling: dih-FENS.
What does defense mean?
- (military) military action or resources protecting a country against potential enemies“they died in the defense of Stalingrad”“they were developed for the defense program”
- protection from harm“sanitation is the best defense against disease”
- (sports) the team that is trying to prevent the other team from scoring“his teams are always good on defense”
Where does defense come from?
From Middle English defens, defense, from Old French defens, defense, from Late Latin dēfēnsa (“protection”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with defense
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of defense.
Words that sound like defense
Questions about saying defense
How do you pronounce defense?
Say dih-FENS. The American pronunciation is /dɪˈfɛns/. In British English it is /dɪˈfɛns/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in defense?
Defense has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FENS). Broken into parts: dih · FENS.
Do Americans and Brits say defense the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dɪˈfɛns/ and the British form is /dɪˈfɛns/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as defense?
Defense sounds the same as defence in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.