defence in depth

noun

A strategy that seeks to delay rather than prevent the advance of an attacker, potentially yielding a limited amount of territory in order to stress the attacker's logistics and reduce their momentum.

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Meanings

noundefence in depth (countable and uncountable, plural defences in depth)

plural defences in depth · alternative defense in depth

  1. countableuncountablegovernmentA strategy that seeks to delay rather than prevent the advance of an attacker, potentially yielding a limited amount of territory in order to stress the attacker's logistics and reduce their momentum.
  2. countableuncountableThe use of multilayered protection to make a system reliable even if part of the protection fails.
Cite this entry
APA

defence in depth. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/defence%20in%20depth

MLA

“defence in depth.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/defence%20in%20depth. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “defence in depth,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/defence%20in%20depth.

Source: defence in depth on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.