A response to a criminal charge where the defendant bears the burden of proof, such as automatism, intoxication, coercion, duress, mistake, etc.: An affirmative defense goes beyond the simple denial of facts and gives new facts in favor of the defendant, if the information in the original complaint are true.

Protective behavior which also functions as an alarm signaling device within the colony: Examples of alarm-defense systems include the use of chemical defensive secretions by certain ant species that double as alarm pheromones.