verteidigen
to defend
To protect someone or something from an attack, danger, or criticism.
EXAMPLE
Die Soldaten verteidigten die Stadt gegen die Angreifer.
The soldiers defended the city against the attackers.
verteidigen
to defend
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Meanings
sich verteidigen
to defend oneself
To defend oneself against a physical or verbal attack.
EXAMPLE
Er musste sich gegen die falschen Anschuldigungen verteidigen.
He had to defend himself against the false accusations.
verteidigen
to defend
As a lawyer, to represent an accused person in court and present arguments for their innocence or for a lenient sentence.
EXAMPLE
Die berühmte Anwältin wird den Angeklagten vor Gericht verteidigen.
The famous lawyer will defend the accused in court.
verteidigen
to defend
To justify and support an opinion, a decision, or an academic work (e.g. a doctoral dissertation) with arguments.
EXAMPLE
Sie musste ihre These überzeugend vor dem Prüfungsausschuss verteidigen.
She had to defend her thesis convincingly before the examination committee.
verteidigen
to defend
In sports, to try to keep a title (e.g. world champion) or a lead and not lose it to a competitor.
EXAMPLE
Die Mannschaft will ihren Meistertitel in dieser Saison verteidigen.
The team wants to defend its championship title this season.
Usage tips
Inseparable verb
'Verteidigen' (to defend) is an inseparable verb. The prefix 'ver-' remains firmly attached to the verb 'teidigen' in all tenses and sentence constructions.
EXAMPLE
Er verteidigt seine Meinung mit starken Argumenten.
He defends his opinion with strong arguments.
Sentence structure with 'gegen'
'Verteidigen' (to defend) is very often used with the preposition 'gegen' (against) and the accusative to name the attack or danger. The pattern is: jemanden/etwas gegen jemanden/etwas verteidigen (to defend someone/something against someone/something).
EXAMPLE
Der Anwalt verteidigt seinen Mandanten gegen schwere Vorwürfe.
The lawyer defends his client against serious accusations.
Reflexive or not?
When you defend yourself, the verb is used reflexively: 'sich verteidigen' (to defend oneself). When you protect another person or a thing, it is used without 'sich' (oneself).
EXAMPLE
Das Kind verteidigte seinen kleinen Bruder auf dem Schulhof.
The child defended his little brother in the schoolyard.
Context clue
The object of the verb reveals the exact meaning: a title is defended in sports, a thesis in academia, an accused person in court, and a city in war.
EXAMPLE
Der Boxer will seinen Weltmeistertitel verteidigen.
The boxer wants to defend his world championship title.
Typical collocations
In the meaning of 'rechtfertigen' (to justify), 'verteidigen' (to defend) is often combined with abstract nouns. Typical phrases are: eine Meinung verteidigen (to defend an opinion), eine Position verteidigen (to defend a position), eine Entscheidung verteidigen (to defend a decision), or eine Ehre verteidigen (to defend an honor).
EXAMPLE
Er verteidigte seine umstrittene Position bis zum Schluss.
He defended his controversial position until the end.
Compare with
verteidigen vs vertreten
to represent
Vertreten generally describes a lawyer acting for a client and legally representing them. In this context, verteidigen is more specific and emphasizes defending against a charge and presenting arguments for the accused person. Use „vertreten“ for legal action in general and „verteidigen“ for defending someone in criminal proceedings.
verteidigen
Die Anwältin verteidigt den Angeklagten gegen die schwere Anklage.
The lawyer defends the defendant against the serious charge.
vertreten
Die Anwältin vertritt den Angeklagten während des gesamten Verfahrens.
The lawyer represents the defendant throughout the entire proceedings.
In real life
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