Defense vs. Defence
“Defense” is the standard US spelling and “defence” is the standard UK spelling for the same noun. The difference is regional spelling rather than a difference in the underlying noun meaning.
“Defense” is the standard US spelling and “defence” is the standard UK spelling for the same noun.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Regional style | Use | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| US English | defense | Standard US spelling. |
| UK English | defence | Standard UK spelling. |
| Mixed/institutional style | follow house style | The difference is orthographic, not semantic. |
Quick tests
Regional-style test
Is the document using a consistent US or UK spelling system?
If yes: Use the matching regional form.
If no: If an organization has its own house style, follow it consistently rather than switching forms arbitrarily.
Caveat: Both spellings express the same underlying noun meaning; neither should be “corrected” without considering regional style.
Examples
The defense filed a motion.
US spelling is appropriate in US-oriented prose.
The defence filed a response.
UK spelling is appropriate in UK-oriented prose.
Choose one regional spelling system for the document.
Consistency is the practical decision.
Further guidance
Core difference
“Defense” is the standard US spelling and “defence” is the standard UK spelling for the same noun.
Fast Test
Choose the form that matches the intended meaning, grammatical role, and documented regional convention; do not treat a standard regional variant as an error.
Variant Boundary
The difference is regional spelling rather than a difference in the underlying noun meaning.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- DEFENSE — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · US spelling of “defence”
- DEFENCE — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · UK spelling “defence”; US “defense”