Defence

Defence is a word we often use connected to military purposes or themes. It describes a way in which we prevent attack, or way of minimising damage caused following an attack. In a conflict situation we use various items as a defence e.g. items such as a gun, rocket or bunker. There are also defence organisations such as the Ministry of Defence who exist to prevent or minimise attack.

If we look back through history it can be said than on the whole those that defend have had a greater level of success than those that attack. During battles the defenders would generally have time to build defences such as trenches before the town of city came under siege, making the position of the enemy all the more vulnerable. In modern times this has involved laying land mines.

When a battle is rather more large scale however, it is not always the defender who had had the advantage as the attacker would be in the position of choosing the time and place of the attack.

Nowadays, there is a role for something called a defence contractor. This is either a person or an organization who is employed by the defence part of a government to provide a service or product to that government. Items that this usually fall into this category as aircraft or helicopters, weaponry or sometimes electronic equipment.

Self-defence is another type of defence and one that describes a way in which we try to shield ourselves from harm from others. This could be through physical or verbal means. Often we learn a form of martial art with the express purpose of being able to defend ourselves should we come under attack, and this is particularly useful for women, who may be more susceptible than men is this way. We also might carry a defensive tool, such as a panic alarm, that we can set off if we come under attack.