Defence vs. Defense: What's the Difference?
Learn why defence and defense are both correct regional spellings, how derived forms work, and when official names control the choice.
Defence and defense are regional spellings of the same noun. Defense is standard in American English; defence is standard in British English and common in many other varieties. Derived words such as defensive use s in both.
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A UK report uses defence in its analysis but quotes the official name of a US Department of Defense program. Keeping both forms is correct because regional style controls the prose and the official title remains unchanged.
Defence vs. Defense at a glance
| Word | Typical role | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| defence | British English noun | protection, resistance, or an argument supporting a position | The barrister prepared the defence carefully. |
| defense | American English noun | the same ideas of protection, resistance, or support | The attorney prepared the defense carefully. |
How to use defence
Use defence in standard British editorial style and in many Commonwealth contexts. It applies to legal cases, sports, national protection, arguments, and acts of guarding against criticism or harm.
The barrister prepared the defence carefully.
How to use defense
Use defense in standard American writing. The meaning and grammatical role match British defence. Official organizations, laws, teams, and titles may permanently use one spelling regardless of the surrounding document.
The attorney prepared the defense carefully.
Rules that make the choice easier
Match your regional style
Choose defense for US English and defence for UK English unless a house guide says otherwise.
Use s in shared derivatives
Defensive, defensible, and defenseless are spelled with s in both major varieties, though British English also uses defenceless.
Preserve proper names
Never respell an official agency, publication, law, or program title to force regional consistency.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Do not describe one regional spelling as a universal error.
- Avoid switching defence and defense within the same editorial voice.
- Do not change Department of Defense to Department of Defence when it is the agency's official name.
Quick practice
1. Which spelling is standard in US English?
Answer: defense
2. Which spelling is standard in UK English?
Answer: defence
3. How is the shared adjective spelled?
Answer: defensive
Frequently asked questions
Is defence or defense correct?
Both are correct; defense is American and defence is British.
Do they have different meanings?
No. The spelling difference is regional, not semantic.
Why is defensive spelled with an s?
Defensive is the established derivative in both American and British English.
Should official names be changed for regional style?
No. Preserve the organization's official spelling.