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

Patriots defensive lineman Milton Williams played last season for the Super Bowl-champion Philadelphia Eagles.

From Los Angeles Times

But the Spaniard, aware of his team's defensive issues this season and the threat posed by Arsenal, plans to make the case for Guehi's inclusion regardless.

From Barron's

Epstein adds: "It is not uplifting, it is gossipy and defensive," saying he found the draft book "troubling" and recommending that Lord Mandelson look at his manuscript again.

From BBC

And with buy-now-pay-later, PayPal seemed to treat installment payments “as a defensive checkout feature rather than an offensive category,” he added.

From MarketWatch

Investors are now rapidly rotating out of those legacy growth stocks into what’s considered cheaper stocks, such as defensives and cyclicals, he said.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• opposing