defender
verbCEFR B1
What does “defender” mean in English?
1.to defend, to argue for
to defend, to argue for (a position, idea, or thesis; defender que + indicative; stem-change e→ie)
2.to defend, to protect
to defend, to protect (physical or legal sense) — defender a alguien / defender una ciudad
Example sentences
Defendió su tesis doctoral con tanta convicción que el tribunal le concedió la máxima calificación por unanimidad.
She defended her doctoral thesis with such conviction that the examining board awarded her the highest grade unanimously.
Defiendo que los idiomas deberían enseñarse desde los primeros años de escolaridad, porque los niños aprenden mucho más rápido que los adultos.
I argue that languages should be taught from the earliest years of schooling, because children learn much faster than adults.
El abogado defensor argumentó que su cliente no había tenido intención de causar daño alguno.
The defence lawyer argued that his client had had no intention of causing any harm.
How to use it
Defender in the opinions-debate context means 'to defend', 'to argue for', or 'to stand behind' a position, idea, or value. It is stem-changing: e→ie in the present (defiendo, defiendes, defiende, defendemos, defendéis, defienden). Takes defender que + indicative when defending a factual claim, or defender + noun (defiende su postura / defiendo mi tesis). In more physical or legal senses it means to defend or protect. The polysemy is worth flagging at B1.
Common mistake
Defender que (advocating a position) always takes indicative — you are asserting the proposition, not expressing doubt or volition. The common error is treating it like a suggestion verb and reaching for subjunctive: *'Defiendo que se haga' is only grammatical if you mean 'I advocate that it be done' (volition reading), not 'I defend the claim that it is happening'. The stem change e→ie in stressed syllables is frequently forgotten.