Defence vs. Defense | Difference & Example Sentences

Defence and defense are two different spellings of the same word, a noun used to refer to the act of protecting or defending something, the legal plea of a person on trial for a crime, or a sports position intended to prevent an opponent from scoring.

The spelling tends to vary based on whether you’re writing in UK or US English:

• In UK English, “defence” (with a “c”) is standard.
• In US English, “defense” (with an “s”) is more common.

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Defensive

Defensive (with an “s”) is an adjective used to describe something as “intended for defence/defense.” It can also be used to describe someone who is likely to challenge criticism.

While the spelling distinction carries over to some related words like “defenceless”/“defenseless,” versions of defence/defense that have a suffix beginning with “i” are spelled with an “s” in both UK and US English (e.g., defensive, defensiveness, defensible). “Defencive” is never correct.

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In my defense or in my defence

In my defence/defense is a phrase used to justify something you have done. It means the same whether written with an “s” or a “c.”

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