Definitions for defensive
dɪˈfɛn sɪvde·fen·sive

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

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

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

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 DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

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.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. defensive

   Defensive refers to any action, behavior, state, strategy, or mechanism intended to protect or prevent harm, injury, or attack. It typically involves measures or tactics used to guard against something undesirable or to shield oneself or something else from criticism, damage, or hostility. It can be used in various contexts such as sports, psychology, military, and more.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:3.0 / 1 vote

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 GazetteerRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

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

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

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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. Nicholas Smith:

   We've had a decent run and a lot of the panic we've seen in the markets has subsided because things are looking so strong in the U.S., today looks like a fairly defensive day, with domestics like retail and pharmaceutical taking the lead.

2. Ian Stewart:

   CFOs do not seem to be waiting for growth to slow before adjusting direction. There has been a marked shift to more defensive balance sheet strategies in the wake of the referendum.

3. John Nicholson:

   It's when they're in a defensive posture, such as in checkpoints being overrun, is where the majority of the casualties are occurring.

4. Patrick Cronin:

   New Korean-built light fighter aircraft could reach Scarborough Shoal in just minutes, and maritime patrol aircraft or drones could eventually provide persistent coverage of Chinese movements in the area, a return to Subic Bay, this time led by the Philippine air force, would seem to be a prudent defensive response.

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.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=defensive
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Defensive
3. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=defensive
4. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
5. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defensive
6. ^ Military Dictionary and Gazetteer
   https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/59563/pg59563-images.html
7. ^ Usage in printed sources
   https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=defensive