defensive

[dih-fen-siv]

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.

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

/ dɪˈfɛnsɪv /

adjective

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

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

noun

1. a position of defence

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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of defensive¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

see on the defensive.

Example Sentences

Liverpool's own Ibrahima Konate has also been linked with a move to Real Madrid at the end of his contract, potentially following in the footsteps of former defensive partner Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Read more on BBC

Just know that she probably won’t take it well, as she seems pretty defensive.

Read more on MarketWatch

Houston’s defensive front has been outstanding, and Davis Mills’ recent surge has muddied the quarterback picture in a good way.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

It was precisely this sort of offensive/defensive arms race that the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty of the era of President Richard Nixon was designed to prevent.

Read more on Salon

Rams defensive end Kobie Turner is a musical wiz, and he showed it by playing the theme song to NBC’s “Sunday Night Football.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• opposing