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

Against this backdrop, the only safe sectors would be defensives—think healthcare and staples—or interest rate-sensitive sectors such as utilities and real estate, analysts with the firm argued.

From Barron's

The trend of "agentic AI" means the advent of systems that can "act autonomously, make decisions, and even circumvent defensive mechanisms," according to Kreuzer.

From Barron's

He said that this defensive strategy meant he only invested a small portion of his portfolio in AI stocks, limiting his upside as those stocks rallied over the past few years.

From MarketWatch

CGS maintains an overweight rating on Malaysian banks, saying earnings would be largely defensive against any negative impact from elevated oil prices.

From The Wall Street Journal

On the ground, Israeli troops have crossed the border to search homes and stake out what the military calls forward defensive positions on strategic hilltops.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• opposing