critical defense
noun phraseUK /ˈkrɪtɪkəl dɪˈfɛns/
US /ˈkrɪtɪkəl dɪˈfɛns/
A very important way to keep yourself safe when someone is trying to hurt you.
The knight used his shield as a critical defense against the dragon's fire.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. The most important part of a team's plan to stop the other team from scoring.
The goalie is the team's critical defense in the final minutes of the game.
3. A strong argument made to protect an idea or person when they are being blamed.
Her critical defense of the science project convinced the judges to give it another look.
4. A necessary backup plan that keeps something from failing completely.
Regular backups are a critical defense against losing all your computer files.