Cool MateDefences vs Resistance
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Defences
Top 3,000 (common)
Resistance
Top 2,000 (common)C1noun
Most common: Resistance
| Defences | Resistance | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //dɪˈfɛnsɪz//🇺🇸 //dɪˈfɛnsɪz// | 🇬🇧 /["/rɪˈzɪstəns/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rɪˈzɪstəns/"]/ |
| Meaning | Ways to protect or guard something. | The ability to fight back against something. |
| Example | The city has built strong defences against floods. | The resistance to the new policy was widespread among the employees. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | C1 |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | build defences, strengthen defences, military defences, legal defences, civil defences | considerable, great, massive, mount, offer, put up, stiffen, collapse, crumble, movement, fighter, forces, without resistance, resistance against, resistance to, the line of least resistance, the path of least resistance, a pocket of resistance, considerable, great, massive, mount, offer, put up, stiffen, collapse, crumble, movement, fighter, forces, without resistance, resistance against, resistance to, the line of least resistance, the path of least resistance, a pocket of resistance, high, increased, low, have, build up, develop, resistance to |
| Antonyms | attacks, offenses | compliance, acceptance, submission |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'defense' (American English spelling)., Misused as a singular noun., Assuming it only refers to physical structures. | Confused with 'resistant' which describes something that can withstand., Using 'resistance' without an object, which can make the sentence unclear., Mixing up synonyms and using them incorrectly in context. |
| Usage notes | Used in both legal and military contexts. Avoid using in casual conversations unrelated to protection or defense-related topics. | Use 'resistance' in contexts involving conflict or opposition. It's appropriate in discussions on politics, psychology, or physics. Avoid using it in informal situations without a clear context. |
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Frequently asked questions: Defences vs Resistance
What's the difference between Defences and Resistance?
Defences: Ways to protect or guard something. Resistance: The ability to fight back against something.
Which is more common: Defences and Resistance?
Resistance is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Defences: The city has built strong defences against floods. Resistance: The resistance to the new policy was widespread among the employees.
Can I use Defences and Resistance interchangeably?
Not always. Defences and Resistance are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.