on defense
idiom
sports
: on the part of a team that defends the goal
She began the season on defense, but her coach later put her on offense.
Examples of on defense in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Whittaker was on defense from that moment, and the former champ did his best to prevent his foe from locking up a submission.
—
Trent Reinsmith, Forbes, 27 Oct. 2024
Since 1986, whistleblowers have been in the forefront of the government’s war on fraud, accounting for $53 billion, or more than 70%, of the $75 billion recovered from swindlers on defense contracts, from Medicare and from other federal programs.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2024
Democrats are on defense in many battleground states and have only two options to go on offense: Texas and Florida.
—Mabinty Quarshie, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 10 Oct. 2024
In a more general sense, every dollar spent on subsidizing an industry is a dollar not spent on another domestic program, on defense, or in the private sector.
—Michael B. G. Froman, Foreign Affairs, 3 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for on defense 
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Trent Reinsmith, Forbes, 27 Oct. 2024
Since 1986, whistleblowers have been in the forefront of the government’s war on fraud, accounting for $53 billion, or more than 70%, of the $75 billion recovered from swindlers on defense contracts, from Medicare and from other federal programs.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2024
Democrats are on defense in many battleground states and have only two options to go on offense: Texas and Florida.
—Mabinty Quarshie, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 10 Oct. 2024
In a more general sense, every dollar spent on subsidizing an industry is a dollar not spent on another domestic program, on defense, or in the private sector.
—Michael B. G. Froman, Foreign Affairs, 3 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for on defense
Dictionary Entries Near on defense
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“On defense.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20defense. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
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