defensive

[ dih-fen-siv ]

/ dɪˈfɛn sɪv /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR defensive ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

serving to defend; protective: defensive armament.

made or carried on for the purpose of resisting attack: defensive treaty; a defensive attitude.

of or relating to defense.

(of stocks, securities, etc.)

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

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

noun

a position or attitude of defense: to be on the defensive about one's mistakes.

Obsolete. something that serves to defend.

RELATED WORDS

carefully

Nearby words

defense, defense mechanism, defenseless, defenseman, defensible, defensive, defensive back, defensive circle, defensive driving, defensive medicine, defensively

Origin of defensive

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

Related forms

de·fen·sive·ly, adverbde·fen·sive·ness, nounnon·de·fen·sive, adjectivenon·de·fen·sive·ly, adverb

non·de·fen·sive·ness, nouno·ver·de·fen·sive, adjectiveo·ver·de·fen·sive·ly, adverbo·ver·de·fen·sive·ness, nounsem·i·de·fen·sive, adjectivesem·i·de·fen·sive·ly, adverbsem·i·de·fen·sive·ness, nounun·de·fen·sive, adjectiveun·de·fen·sive·ly, adverbun·de·fen·sive·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for defensively

But in 1998, he sensed the urgency and the utility of taking impeachment on directly—and certainly not defensively.
Send In Bill Clinton to Save the Democratic Midterm Campaign|Robert Shrum|April 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“That was the decision of the lawyers,” Sharpton says defensively in the Times interview.
Al Sharpton’s Long Bill of Goods, From Tawana Brawley to Primetime|Stuart Stevens|June 3, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The Patriot subset that declines to accept racism continues to cope with the issue unevenly and defensively.
The Patriot Movement’s New Bestseller Tests Their Anti-Racism|J.M. Berger|June 8, 2012|DAILY BEAST
But Boredom, defensively subtitled A Lively History, is in fact a spirited, no-nonsense guide to a surprisingly contentious topic.
A Book About Boredom Is Anything But|Jeremy Axelrod|June 20, 2011|DAILY BEAST

“I got them when I was in medical school but I never wore them,” she said, a little too defensively.
Why Are These Models Wearing Clogs?|Kate Betts|June 2, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Defensively, too, had the rider of the maherry an advantage over his antagonists.
The Boy Slaves|Mayne Reid
"I don't think they're too contented, Mr. March," said Barbara, defensively.
John March, Southerner|George W. Cable
“It is easy enough getting in, if you take your time,” she always said defensively to criticizing friends.
Eve to the Rescue|Ethel Hueston
"Mother was sick, and I had to go of errands," said the child, defensively.
Rose Clark|Fanny Fern
“Well, you know Jerry will be here only a few days at most,” Penny said defensively.
Voice from the Cave|Mildred A. Wirt

British Dictionary definitions for defensively

defensive

/ (dɪˈfɛnsɪv) /

adjective

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

rejecting criticisms of oneself or covering up one's failings

noun

a position of defence

on the defensive in an attitude or position of defence, as in being ready to reject criticism

Derived Formsdefensively, adverbdefensiveness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for defensively

defensive

c.1400 (adj. and noun), from French défensif (14c.), from Medieval Latin defensivus, from defens-, past participle stem of Latin defendere (see defend). Of persons, "alert to reject criticism," from 1919. Related: Defensively; defensiveness.

Idioms and Phrases with defensively

defensive

see on the defensive.

defensive

adjective

noun

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RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of defensive

Examples from the Web for defensively

British Dictionary definitions for defensively

defensive

adjective

noun

Word Origin and History for defensively

defensive

Idioms and Phrases with defensively

defensive