defensive force
Guardian armed unit
Defensive force is physical force used to protect oneself or others from harm, as distinguished from aggressive or offensive force.
The concept is central to self-defense law, which generally permits reasonable defensive force proportional to the threat: The jury found her use of defensive force justified.
In military contexts, it describes operations aimed at repelling attack rather than initiating conflict.
- barricadeObstacle blocking a path
- armorProtective combat covering
- military strategyArmed forces operational planning
- fortificationStrengthening defenses or nutrients
- helmetProtective head covering
shield · deterrence · hold the line · castle doctrine · home security · collective security · countermeasure · surveillance · perimeter security · resilience · weapon · de-escalation techniques · martial arts · evacuation plan · safe zone · imminent threat · watchmen · thin blue line
- self-defensemartial arts, self-protection, karate, pepper spray, blocking
- legal defensesalibi, insanity, duress, entrapment, necessity
- conscriptionconscription, conscript, conscripts, draftee, draftees
- retributionretribution, revenge, payback, vengeance, retaliation
defensive forceaggressor
One who initiates conflict
strike force · expeditionary force · invasion force · raiding party · war of aggression
defensive forceinvader
One who enters aggressively
attacker · enemy combatant · belligerent · occupier · marauder