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Precaution vs Defence - What's the difference?

precaution | defence |

As nouns the difference between precaution and defence

is that precaution is precaution while defence is the action of defending, of protecting from attack, danger or injury.

As a verb defence is

(obsolete|transitive) to furnish with defences; to fortify.

precaution

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • Previous caution or care; caution previously employed to prevent mischief or secure good; as, his life was saved by precaution.
  • * John Henry Newman
    • The ancient philosophers treasured up their supposed discoveries with miserable precaution .
  • A measure taken beforehand to ward off evil or secure good or success; a precautionary act.
    • to take precautions against risks of accident

    Derived terms

    * precautionary

    See also

    * prevention

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (transitive): To warn or caution beforehand. --.
  • (rare): To take precaution against. --.

    • defence

    English

    Alternative forms

    * defense (US )

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The action of defending, of protecting from attack, danger or injury.
  • * Shakespeare
    • In cases of defence 'tis best to weigh / The enemy more mighty than he seems.
  • Something used to oppose attack(s).
  • * 1592—1609 , , Sonnet XII:
    • And nothing 'gainst Time's scythe can make defence
    Save breed, to brave him when he takes thee hence.
  • An argument in support or justification of something.
  • * 1592—1609 , , Sonnet LXXXIX:
    • Speak of my lameness, and I straight will halt,
    Against thy reasons making no defence .
  • A strategy and tactics employed to prevent the other team from scoring; contrasted with offence.
  • The portion of a team dedicated to preventing the other team from scoring; contrasted with offence.
  • Government policy or (infra)structure related to the military.
    • Department of Defence
  • Prohibition; a prohibitory ordinance.
  • * Sir W. Temple
    • Severe defences against wearing any linen under a certain breadth.

    Synonyms

    * See

    Antonyms

    * offence (Commonwealth), offense (US)

    Derived terms

    * antidefence, antidefense * ecodefence, ecodefense * Nuremberg defence, Nuremberg defense * defensive * defensiveness

    Verb

    (defenc)
  • (obsolete) To furnish with defences; to fortify.
  • * Hales:
    • Better manned and more strongly defenced .