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

defensives plural

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

Derived Forms

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

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• defensives
  plural

Etymology

Origin of defensive

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

Explanation

Someone on the defensive is concerned with justifying their actions or words. They have a defensive attitude as they try to protect themselves. If you know that to defend is to protect, you have an idea what defensive means. When a person is acting defensive, they're trying to protect or justify themselves. People who are insecure or guilty tend to act defensive. Also, defensive players in football try to prevent the other side from scoring, just like defensive military strategies try to protect something. When someone has a defensive attitude, or is forced to defend something, we also say they're "on the defensive."

Example Sentences

Offensive and defensive lineman Joseph Medina from the class of 2028 has made quite a first impression on Hernandez.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 21, 2026

Success requires breaking through large customers’ loyalties and Nvidia’s defensive moats.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 19, 2026

When dropping into a lower defensive shape, the England players were caught in two minds, often choosing to track their man rather than defending in a more traditional zonal manner.

From BBC • Jun. 18, 2026

England's 4-2 win against Croatia was full of exciting attacking football but the defensive part of the game raised some eyebrows with them looking open on a number of occasions.

From BBC • Jun. 18, 2026

As Jake spoke, I watched David’s face and could almost feel the full range of his thoughts—starting with defensive anger and moving on to fear, then sadness, and finally horror.

From "Internment" by Samira Ahmed

Related Words

• opposing