defense; protection; prevention
Refers to the act of guarding against or stopping something undesirable. Often used in compounds like 防ぎ止める (to hold off) or 防ぎ手 (a defender).
We couldn't completely defend against the enemy's attack.
Handwashing is important for the prevention of illness.
防止 focuses on preventing an undesirable event from happening at all, whereas 防ぎ centers on the protective action of blocking or repelling something already occurring.
攻撃 means to attack or go on the offensive, the direct opposite of 防ぎ, which means to defend against or ward off an attack.
prevent; stop; hold back
Standard kanji spelling for defense/protection.
Rare variant kanji; 禦 carries a nuance of warding off or repelling.
Rare variant kanji; 拒 suggests refusal or rejection.
Noun form of the verb 防ぐ (ふせぐ, to defend/protect), derived from the continuative stem (連用形). The kanji 防 is used for defense; variant kanji 禦 and 拒 are rare and carry specific nuances.