2 syllables: De, fense. Stress on fense.
dif-ENS
/dɪˈfɛns/
Defense is pronounced dif-ENS (/dɪˈfɛns/). It has two syllables (De-fense), with the stress on "fense". Defense is a noun meaning the act of protecting or shielding from harm, or the legal arguments used to justify a case in court. It can also refer to a defensive structure or measure. In everyday usage, it often denotes the action of safeguarding someone or something, and in sports it describes the team’s effort to prevent scoring. The stress is on the second syllable: de-FENSE.
nounDefense is a noun meaning the act of protecting or shielding from harm, or the legal arguments used to justify a case in court. It can also refer to a defensive structure or measure. In everyday usage, it often denotes the action of safeguarding someone or something, and in sports it describes the team’s effort to prevent scoring. The stress is on the second syllable: de-FENSE.
- You might replace the short /ɛ/ with an /eɪ/ diphthong feel (de-FAY-ns) which stalls the rhythm; keep it crisp as /ɛ/. - The final /ns/ cluster can blur into /nz/ in rapid speech; practice stopping the air for a clean unvoiced /s/. - Some learners voice the mid vowel too much or insert an extra vowel between /f/ and /n/; aim for a tight /fɛn/ sequence. - Also watch for misplacing stress on the first syllable in casual speech; remind yourself the natural English rhythm places stronger emphasis on the second syllable. Practice with slow drills, then speed up to natural pace, and finally connect to phrases like “national defense.”
How to Pronounce Defense
"The defense of the fortress required constant monitoring of the walls."
"Her defense in court rested on a technical interpretation of the law."
"The basketball team's defense kept the opponent from scoring."
Pronounce it as dɪˈfɛns with the main stress on the second syllable: de-FENSE. The first syllable has a short i as in 'dip', the second syllable has a short e as in 'dress', ending with the unvoiced s sound. Tip: keep the tongue relaxed for the initial /d/ and ensure the /ɛ/ is a crisp short vowel before the final /ns/. Audio resources: try Cambridge or Oxford pronunciations to hear the exact US pronunciation, then compare with UK -> dɪˈfɛn(t)s.
Common errors include over-lowering the /ɛ/ to a more open vowel as in 'cat', and adding an extra vowel in the second syllable (like de-feh-nse). Another mistake is voicing the final /s/ as a /z/ in rapid speech, especially before a following voiced sound. Correct these by practicing the short, clipped /ɛ/ and keeping final /s/ unvoiced, as in dɪˈfɛns. Use minimal pairs to feel the contrast, e.g., fence vs. dense vs. defense.
In US English, it’s dɪˈfɛns with a clear short /ɛ/ and an unvoiced final /s/. In UK English, the second syllable may sound slightly lighter and the vowel can be closer to /e/ in some dialects, yielding dɪˈfɛn(t)s. Australian English tends to be similar to US but with more centralized vowel qualities; you might hear dɪˈfɛn(t)s with a slightly longer but still short /ɛ/. All share the stress on the second syllable but vowel quality varies by rhoticity and vowel height.
The challenge centers on the stressed second syllable with a short, tense /ɛ/ followed by unvoiced /ns/. Many speakers unintentionally voice the final /s/ as /z/ in rapid speech or reduce the middle /ɛ/ to a schwa. Also, non-native speakers often misplace the stress, saying de-DEFENSE or DE-fense. Focus on a crisp /f/ formation, a clear /ɛ/ before /n/ and a controlled final /s/. IPA cues: dɪˈfɛns with precise tongue advancement and lips neutral at the /f/ onset.
No silent letters in the standard pronunciation. All letters contribute to the sound: /d/ at the start, a short /ɪ/ then /f/ followed by /ɛ/ (or /e/ in some accents), and a final /ns/ cluster where the /n/ and /s/ are articulated without an extra vowel. The key is not to insert a vowel between /f/ and /ɛ/ and to keep the /s/ unvoiced. IPA: dɪˈfɛns.
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- US: rhotic, speaker’s tongue-tip touches the alveolar ridge lightly on /d/ and /t/ sounds; /ɪ/ is lax; /f/ is labiodental; /ɛ/ is open-mid front; final /ns/ clusters; vowel sound is tenser in stressed syllable. - UK: non-rhotic tendencies can soften the /r/; the /ɪ/ and /ɛ/ can be closer to /i/ and /e/ respectively depending on region; watch for a crisper /s/ and shorter preconsonantal vowels. - AU: vowels tend to be broader and more centralized; /ɛ/ may be slightly lowered, /ɪ/ can be a bit lax; final cluster remains unvoiced. Use IPA to compare: US dɪˈfɛns, UK dɪˈfɛn(t)s, AU dɪˈfɛn(t)s. Focus on keeping the stress and the final /s/ unvoiced in all accents.
Defense derives from the Old French defense, from Latin defensus, past participle of defendere, meaning to ward off or protect. The Latin de- means “from” or “away,” and fendere means “to strike or defend.” The sense of protection developed in English during the Middle Ages, initially in military terms (to defend a fortress) and later in legal contexts (a defense in court). The word entered English around the 14th century, retaining both the physical sense of protection and the more abstract idea of justification or argument in one’s own defense. Over time, “defense” broadened to encompass sports (defense against opponents), computer or system safeguards, and even psychological defense mechanisms. Modern usage often distinguishes defense as protective action or strategy versus the opposing team’s offense. In American English, the spelling defense aligns with the academic and legal senses, while “defense” in British English also adheres to that form, though the pronunciation and some collocations can vary regionally. First known use in printed English appears in the 14th century, with the sense of a protective act well established by the 16th century.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Defense" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Defense" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Defense"
-nse sounds
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