1. Protection: This is the most common meaning. It refers to measures taken to protect something from attack or harm.
* Examples:
* "The castle had strong defenses against invaders."
* "The athlete had a strong defense against the opponent's attacks."
2. Legal Arguments: In a legal context, "defenses" refers to arguments presented by the accused in a criminal case or by the defendant in a civil case to try and avoid being found guilty or liable.
* Examples:
* "The lawyer presented a strong defense against the charges."
* "The company's defense relied on the argument that they were not negligent."
3. Psychological Mechanisms: In psychology, "defenses" refer to unconscious strategies used to protect the ego from anxiety and stress.
* Examples:
* "Denial" is a common defense mechanism.
* "Projection" is another defense mechanism where people attribute their own undesirable qualities to others.
4. Military Strategy: In a military context, "defenses" can refer to the strategies and tactics used by a force to protect itself from enemy attack.
* Examples:
* "The army deployed strong defenses along the border."
* "The air force used a combination of air and ground defenses to protect its base."
The specific meaning of "defenses" will be clear based on the context in which it is used.