unconscious process, process - a mental process that you are not directly aware of; "the process of denial"

psychiatry, psychological medicine, psychopathology - the branch of medicine dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders

compensation - (psychiatry) a defense mechanism that conceals your undesirable shortcomings by exaggerating desirable behaviors

conversion - (psychiatry) a defense mechanism represses emotional conflicts which are then converted into physical symptoms that have no organic basis

denial - (psychiatry) a defense mechanism that denies painful thoughts

displacement - (psychiatry) a defense mechanism that transfers affect or reaction from the original object to some more acceptable one

idealisation, idealization - (psychiatry) a defense mechanism that splits something you are ambivalent about into two representations--one good and one bad

intellectualisation, intellectualization - (psychiatry) a defense mechanism that uses reasoning to block out emotional stress and conflict

isolation - (psychiatry) a defense mechanism in which memory of an unacceptable act or impulse is separated from the emotion originally associated with it

projection - (psychiatry) a defense mechanism by which your own traits and emotions are attributed to someone else

psychoanalytic process - a process that is assumed to occur in psychoanalytic theory

rationalisation, rationalization - (psychiatry) a defense mechanism by which your true motivation is concealed by explaining your actions and feelings in a way that is not threatening

reaction formation - (psychiatry) a defense mechanism in which a person unconsciously develops attitudes and behavior that are the opposite of unacceptable repressed desires and impulses and serve to conceal them; "his strict morality is just a reaction formation to hide his sexual drive"

regression - (psychiatry) a defense mechanism in which you flee from reality by assuming a more infantile state

repression - (psychiatry) the classical defense mechanism that protects you from impulses or ideas that would cause anxiety by preventing them from becoming conscious

athletics, sport - an active diversion requiring physical exertion and competition

team, squad - a cooperative unit

aggregation, collection, accumulation, assemblage - several things grouped together or considered as a whole

organization, organisation - a group of people who work together

bastion - a group that defends a principle; "a bastion against corruption"; "the last bastion of communism"

answer - the speech act of replying to a question

confutation - the speech act of refuting conclusively

rebuttal - the speech act of refuting by offering a contrary contention or argument

justification - a statement in explanation of some action or belief

apologia, apology - a formal written defense of something you believe in strongly

alibi - (law) a defense by an accused person purporting to show that he or she could not have committed the crime in question

exculpation, excuse, self-justification, alibi - a defense of some offensive behavior or some failure to keep a promise etc.; "he kept finding excuses to stay"; "every day he had a new alibi for not getting a job"; "his transparent self-justification was unacceptable"

cheval-de-frise, chevaux-de-frise - defensive structure consisting of a movable obstacle composed of barbed wire or spikes attached to a wooden frame; used to obstruct cavalry

fortification, munition - defensive structure consisting of walls or mounds built around a stronghold to strengthen it

fortress, fort - a fortified defensive structure

line of defence, line of defense - defensive structure consisting of a barrier that can be employed for defense against attack

outwork - subsidiary defensive structure lying outside the main fortified area; "the outworks of the castle"

stronghold, fastness - a strongly fortified defensive structure

structure, construction - a thing constructed; a complex construction or entity; "the structure consisted of a series of arches"; "she wore her hair in an amazing construction of whirls and ribbons"

due process, due process of law - (law) the administration of justice according to established rules and principles; based on the principle that a person cannot be deprived of life or liberty or property without appropriate legal procedures and safeguards

trial - (law) legal proceedings consisting of the judicial examination of issues by a competent tribunal; "most of these complaints are settled before they go to trial"

entrapment - a defense that claims the defendant would not have broken the law if not tricked into doing it by law enforcement officials

jurisprudence, law - the collection of rules imposed by authority; "civilization presupposes respect for the law"; "the great problem for jurisprudence to allow freedom while enforcing order"

umbrella - a formation of military planes maintained over ground operations or targets; "an air umbrella over England"

military action, action - a military engagement; "he saw action in Korea"

air defense - defensive measures designed to destroy attacking enemy aircraft or missiles or to nullify their effectiveness

stand - a defensive effort; "the army made a final stand at the Rhone"

hasty defence, hasty defense - a defense organized while in contact with the enemy or when time is limited

deliberate defence, deliberate defense - a defensive organized before contact is made with the enemy and while time for organization is available; usually includes a fortified zone (with pillboxes) and communication systems

biodefence, biodefense, biological defence, biological defense - procedures involved in taking defensive measures against attacks using biological agents

chemical defence, chemical defense - procedures involved in taking defensive measures against attacks using chemical agents

minelaying, mining - laying explosive mines in concealed places to destroy enemy personnel and equipment

biological warfare defence, biological warfare defense, BW defence, BW defense - defense against biological warfare

armed forces, armed services, military, military machine, war machine - the military forces of a nation; "their military is the largest in the region"; "the military machine is the same one we faced in 1991 but now it is weaker"

protection - the activity of protecting someone or something; "the witnesses demanded police protection"