different between defence vs security

English

Alternative forms

• defense (American)

Etymology

From Middle English defens, defense, from Old French defens, defense, from Latin d?fensa (“protection”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /d??f?ns/
• Rhymes: -?ns

Noun

defence (countable and uncountable, plural defences) (British spelling)

1. The action of defending, of protecting from attack, danger or injury.
   • c. 1598, William Shakespeare, Henry V, Act II, Scene 4,^[1]

     In cases of defence ’tis best to weigh

     The enemy more mighty than he seems:

2. Something used to oppose attacks.
   • 1609, William Shakespeare, Sonnet 12,^[2]

     And nothing ’gainst Time’s scythe can make defence

     Save breed, to brave him when he takes thee hence.

3. An argument in support or justification of something.
   • 1609, William Shakespeare, Sonnet 89,^[3]

     Speak of my lameness, and I straight will halt,

     Against thy reasons making no defence.
4. (team sports) A strategy and tactics employed to prevent the other team from scoring; contrasted with offence.
5. (team sports) The portion of a team dedicated to preventing the other team from scoring; contrasted with offence.
6. Government policy or (infra)structure related to the military.

7. (obsolete) Prohibition; a prohibitory ordinance.
   • 1673, William Temple, “An Essay upon the Advancement of Trade in Ireland” in Miscellanea, London: Edw[ard] Gellibrand, 1680, p. 116,^[5]

     […] severe defences may be made against weaving any Linnen under a certain breadth, such as may be of better use to the poorest People […]

Synonyms

• See Thesaurus:defence

Antonyms

• offence (Commonwealth), offense (US)

Usage notes

The noun spelling is mainly used in the UK, Australia, Canada, Ireland, and New Zealand, defense is more commonly used in America.

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

defence (third-person singular simple present defences, present participle defencing, simple past and past participle defenced)

1. (obsolete, transitive) To furnish with defences; to fortify.
   • 1656, John Hales, Dixi Custodiam

     Better manned and more strongly defenced.

English

Alternative forms

• secuerity (mostly obsolete)

Etymology

secure +? -ity, from Middle English securite, from Middle French securité (modern sécurité), from Latin s?c?rit?s, from Latin s?c?rus (“safe, secure”), from se- (“without”) +? cura (“care”); see cure. Similar to Latin sine cura (“without care, carefree”), which led to English sinecure. Doublet of surety.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /s??kj????ti/, /s??kj????ti/
• (US) IPA^(key): /s??kj??.??ti/, [s??kj??.???i], /s??kj??.??ti/, [s??kj??.???i]

Noun

security (countable and uncountable, plural securities)

1. (uncountable) The condition of not being threatened, especially physically, psychologically, emotionally, or financially.
2. (countable) Something that secures.
3. An organization or department responsible for providing security by enforcing laws, rules, and regulations as well as maintaining order.
4. (law) Something that secures the fulfillment of an obligation or law.
5. (law) Freedom from apprehension.
7. (finance, often used in plural) A tradeable financial asset, such as a share of stock.^W
8. (finance) Proof of ownership of stocks, bonds or other investment instruments.
9. (finance) Property etc. temporarily relinquished to guarantee repayment of a loan.
10. A guarantee.
11. (obsolete) Carelessness; negligence.

Synonyms

• (condition of not being threatened): safety
• (something that secures): protection
• (something that secures the fulfillment of an obligation): guarantee, surety
• See also Thesaurus:security

Antonyms

• insecurity (condition of being threatened)

Hyponyms

Derived terms

Descendants

• ? Japanese: ?????? (sekyuriti)

Translations

References

• security at OneLook Dictionary Search
• security in Keywords for Today: A 21st Century Vocabulary, edited by The Keywords Project, Colin MacCabe, Holly Yanacek, 2018.
• security in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• security on Wikipedia.Wikipedia