Definitions for Defensive
dɪˈfɛn sɪvde·fen·sive

Princeton's WordNet(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. defensive, defensive attitudeadjective

   an attitude of defensiveness (especially in the phrase `on the defensive')

2. defensiveadjective

   intended or appropriate for defending against or deterring aggression or attack

   "defensive weapons"; "a defensive stance"

3. defensive, justificative, justificatoryadjective

   attempting to justify or defend in speech or writing

Wiktionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. defensivenoun

   A means, attitude or position of defense.

2. defensiveadjective

   Intended for defence; protective

3. defensiveadjective

   Intended to deter attack

4. defensiveadjective

   Performed so as to minimise risk

5. defensiveadjective

   Displaying an inordinate sensitivity to criticism; compare paranoid

6. defensiveadjective

   Of a bowling or fielding tactic designed to prevent the other side from scoring runs.; of a batting tactic designed to prevent being out.

7. defensiveadjective

   pertaining to defense, as opposed to attack.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Defensiveadjective

   Etymology: defensif, Fr. from defendens, Latin.

   1. That serves to defend; proper for defence; not offensive.

   He would not be persuaded by danger to offer any offence, but only to stand upon the best defensive guard he could. Philip Sidney.

   My unpreparedness for war, testifies for me, that I am set on the defensive part. Charles I .

   Defensive arms lay by, as useless here,
   Where massy balls the neighbouring rocks do tear. Edmund Waller.

   2. In a state or posture of defence.

   What stood, recoil’d,
   Defensive scarce, or with pale fear surpriz’d,
   Fled ignominious. John Milton.

2. Defensivenoun

   Etymology: from the adjective.

   1. Safeguard.

   Wars preventive upon just fears, are true defensives, as well as on actual invasions. Francis Bacon, War with Spain.

   2. State of defence.

   His majesty, not at all dismayed, resolved to stand upon the defensive only. Edward Hyde, b. viii.

Webster Dictionary(3.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Defensiveadjective

   serving to defend or protect; proper for defense; opposed to offensive; as, defensive armor

2. Defensiveadjective

   carried on by resisting attack or aggression; -- opposed to offensive; as, defensive war

3. Defensiveadjective

   in a state or posture of defense

4. Defensivenoun

   that which defends; a safeguard

5. Etymology: [Cf. F. dfensif.]

Military Dictionary and Gazetteer(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. defensive

   A force is said to be on the defensive, or to assume a defensive attitude, when it takes up a position to receive an attack.

British National Corpus

1. Adjectives Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'Defensive' in Adjectives Frequency: #871

How to pronounce Defensive?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say Defensive in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of Defensive in Chaldean Numerology is: 6

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of Defensive in Pythagorean Numerology is: 8

Examples of Defensive in a Sentence

1. Saint Augustine:

   Though defensive violence will always be 'a sad necessity' in the eyes of men of principle, it would be still more unfortunate if wrongdoers should dominate just men.

2. Jeff Sessions:

   We're not going to be defensive. We're going to confront any problems and we're going to deal with them one by one in a proper, fair and appropriate way.

3. Karen Hiatt:

   I think what we're going to see through the end of the year is a refocus on oil and commodities, the market is still continuing to want to migrate toward more defensive, more visible earnings-type companies or sectors.

4. Los Angeles Fire Department:

   The well-coordinated LAFD defensive operations prevented either of two adjacent businesses from sustaining fire damage.

5. Jim Mattis:

   This decision was taken to create space for our diplomats to negotiate strongly and increasing the prospects for a peaceful solution on the peninsula, at the same time, we maintain a strong collaborative defensive stance to ensure our diplomats continue to negotiate from a position of unquestioned strength.

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