The forcible repulsion of an unlawful and violent attack, such as the defense of one's person, property, or country in time of war.

The totality of the facts, law, and contentions presented by the party against whom a civil action or ciminal prosecution is instituted in order to defeat or diminish the plaintiff's CAUSE OF ACTION or the prosecutor's case. A reply to the claims of the other party, which asserts reasons why the claims should be disallowed. The defense may involve an absolute denial of the other party's factual allegations or may entail an AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE, which sets forth completely new factual allegations. Pursuant to the rules of federal CIVIL PROCEDURE, numerous...