defensive

[ dih-fen-siv ]

/ dɪˈfɛn sɪv /

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.

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 defensiveness

Yet Manhattan has none of the defensiveness that seems to be peeking around the corners of this film.
He’s Still Older, Even in the Moonlight: Woody Allen’s May-December Romances Inspire Scrutiny|Teo Bugbee|July 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Back to The Knocks, still awash in denial and defensiveness.
Daft Punk Mystery Solved!*|Winston Ross|June 6, 2013|DAILY BEAST
It spoke of insecurity rather than control, defensiveness instead of dynamism.
Jennifer Lopez’s Fashion Blunder at American Music Awards|Robin Givhan|November 21, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Then read the mountains of judgment, scorn, bragging, critiquing, and defensiveness that each debate seems to produce.
You're Pregnant, Have a Drink|Kate Tuttle|October 6, 2010|DAILY BEAST

Police need to uncross their arms that are folded in defiance and defensiveness across their chests.
Are We All Racial Profilers?|Lorie Fridell|July 29, 2009|DAILY BEAST

British Dictionary definitions for defensiveness

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 Forms

defensively, 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

Idioms and Phrases with defensiveness

defensive

see on the defensive.