Dictionary.com

defensive

[ dih-fen-siv ]
/ dɪˈfɛn sɪv /
See synonyms for defensive on Thesaurus.com

adjective

noun

a position or attitude of defense: to be on the defensive about one's mistakes.
Obsolete. something that serves to defend.

QUIZZES

THIS PSAT VOCABULARY QUIZ IS PERFECT PRACTICE FOR THE REAL TEST

In our third teacher-created PSAT practice test there are new and unique vocabulary terms you may have never heard of! Can you guess what they mean?
Question 1 of 10
seclusion
a false belief or opinion.
the matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid.
the state of being isolated, kept apart, or withdrawn into solitude.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of defensive

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

OTHER WORDS FROM defensive

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Words related to defensive

opposing, conservative, preservative, thwarting, foiling, averting, forestalling, preventive, uptight, arresting, resistive, balking, checking, defending, frustrating, guarding, interrupting, protecting, safeguarding, withstanding

Example sentences from the Web for defensive

  • It is a curious characteristic of the non-defensive disposition that it is like a honey-jar to flies.

    Jennie Gerhardt|Theodore Dreiser

British Dictionary definitions for defensive

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 of defensive

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 defensive

defensive

see on the defensive.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.