defensive

American  

[dih-fen-siv] / dɪˈfɛn sɪv /

adjective

1. serving to defend; protective.

   defensive armament.

2. made or carried on for the purpose of resisting attack.

   defensive treaty;

   a defensive attitude.

3. of or relating to defense.

4. (of stocks, securities, etc.)

   1. able to provide moderately steady growth with minimal risk.

      The bank has put a large percentage of its assets in defensive rather than growth stocks.

   2. considered stable and relatively safe for investment, especially during a decline in the economy.

5. excessively concerned with guarding against the real or imagined threat of criticism, injury to one's ego, or exposure of one's shortcomings.

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noun

1. a position or attitude of defense.

   to be on the defensive about one's mistakes.

2. Obsolete. something that serves to defend.

defensive British  

/ dɪˈfɛnsɪv /

adjective

1. intended, suitable, or done for defence, as opposed to offence

2. rejecting criticisms of oneself or covering up one's failings

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noun

1. a position of defence

2. in an attitude or position of defence, as in being ready to reject criticism

defensive Idioms  

1. see on the defensive.

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Other Word Forms

• defensively adverb
• defensiveness noun
• nondefensive adjective
• nondefensively adverb
• overdefensive adjective
• overdefensively adverb
• semidefensive adjective
• semidefensively adverb
• undefensive adjective
• undefensively adverb

Etymology

Origin of defensive

First recorded in 1350–1400; from Medieval Latin dēfēnsīvus ( defense, -ive ); replacing Middle English defensif, from Middle French, from Medieval Latin, as above

Example Sentences

The preseason scouting report on senior catcher Carson Sheffer of Oaks Christian was that he’s an elite defensive player with an electric arm.

From Los Angeles Times

The hollow spikes may have served as a defensive adaptation, functioning in a way similar to the quills of a porcupine by discouraging predators from attacking.

From Science Daily

The bonds’ principle protection is defensive, while the conversion feature provides much of the upside.

From Barron's

“We have written the networks letters, and the response, by and large, has been defensive as they attempt to justify what is unjustifiable,” Jackson said at the news conference.

From Los Angeles Times

Between the two extremes, investors have been buying up utilities, power generation and industrials — stocks that would underpin the AI race — but also defensive areas like consumer staples and fixed income.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• opposing