1. A military unit or group tasked with protecting a position, territory, or objective against attack
The defending force held their ground against the enemy assault.
A força defensora manteve sua posição contra o ataque inimigo.
2. In sports, the team or players actively attempting to prevent the opposing team from scoring
The defending force made several key interceptions during the game.
A força defensora fez várias interceptações cruciais durante o jogo.