defender

de·fend  (d-fnd)

v. de·fend·ed, de·fend·ing, de·fends

v.tr.

1. To make or keep safe from danger, attack, or harm.

2. Sports

a. To attempt to prevent the opposition from scoring while playing in or near (a goal or area of a field, for example).

b. To be responsible for guarding (an opposing player).

c. To compete against a challenger in an attempt to retain (a championship).

3. To support or maintain, as by argument or action; justify.

4. Law

a. To represent (a defendant) in a civil or criminal action.

b. To attempt to disprove or invalidate (an action or claim).

v.intr.

1. To make a defense.

2. Sports To play defense.

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[Middle English defenden, from Old French defendre, from Latin dfendere, to ward off; see g^when- in Indo-European roots.]

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de·fenda·ble adj.

de·fender n.

Synonyms: defend, protect, guard, preserve, shield, safeguard
These verbs mean to make or keep safe from danger, attack, or harm. Defend implies repelling an attack: defending her territory; defended his reputation.
Protect often suggests providing a barrier to discomfort, injury, or attack: bought a dog to protect the children; wore sunglasses to protect her eyes.
Guard suggests keeping watch: guarded the house against intruders.
To preserve is to take measures to maintain something in safety: ecologists working to preserve our natural resources.
Shield suggests protecting with a piece of defensive armor: hid the newspaper to shield me from the bad news.
Safeguard stresses protection against potential danger: The Bill of Rights safeguards our individual liberties.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	defender - a person who cares for persons or property guardian, protector, shielder 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 paladin, champion, fighter, hero - 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 fighter, fire-eater, 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; "am I my brother's keeper?" 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; "she's the peacekeeper in that family" preserver - someone who keeps safe from harm or danger 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; "she is the global watchdog for human rights abuses"
	2.	defender - a fighter who holds out against attack withstander battler, belligerent, combatant, fighter, scrapper - someone who fights (or is fighting)

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defender

noun 1. supporter, champion, advocate, sponsor, follower, patron, apologist, upholder, vindicator

noun 2. protector, guard, guardian, escort, bodyguard, guardian angel

Translations

defender [dɪˈfɛndəʳ] n → defensor/a m/f

defender [dɪˈfɛndəʳ] defend n → défenseur m

defender [dɪˈfɛndəʳ] defend n → Verteidiger(in) m(f)

defender [dɪˈfɛndəʳ] n → difensore/a