defensive
AI In plain words
Writing a short explanation…
Written by a house AI from the entry below, in your language. The entry itself is the source.
defensive
- /dɪˈfɛn.sɪv/ Canada, US, UK
- /dɪˈfen.sɪv/ Australia
- /dəˈfen.səv/ New Zealand
Where it comes from
From Middle French défensif. Morphologically defense + -ive.
adjective more defensive · most defensive
- Intended for defence; protective. a defensive perimeter
- Intended to deter attack. a defensive missile system
- Performed so as to minimise risk. defensive driving
- Displaying an inordinate sensitivity to criticism or intrusion; oversensitive; thin-skinned.
- Of a bowling or fielding tactic designed to prevent the other side from scoring runs; of a batting tactic designed to prevent being out.
- Pertaining to defense, as opposed to attack. The victim held up his hand to repel the attacker and received a defensive knife wound.
- In a state or posture of defense. […]Once join'd, the contrary ſhe proves, a thorn Inteſtin, far within defenſive arms[…]
Opposite: offensive
noun defensives
- A means, attitude or position of defense. Chiefly in on the defensive. The Germans had developed a highly scientific defensive in which machine-guns replaced rifles and a maximum of punishment was inflicted upon an assaulting force with a minimum of human loss.
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: protective, excusatory, apologetic, justificatory, justificative, antitank, antiaircraft, en garde, antisubmarine, defending, defensive attitude, defend, protection, defence, defender, defense
adjective
Opposite: offensive
Translations
Every language
adj intended for defence; protective
| Español | defensivo, que defensa, defensante |
|---|---|
| Português | defensivo, defensante, que defensa |
| Français | défensif, defendant |
| Deutsch | Verteidigungs-, Abwehr- |
| Italiano | difensivo, difendente, che difende |
| Ελληνικά | αμυντικός amyntikós |
| Română | defensiv |
| Русский | оборони́тельный oboronítelʹnyj, защи́тный zaščítnyj |
adj intended to deter attack
| Deutsch | Abwehr- |
|---|
adj performed so as to minimise risk
| Deutsch | defensiv, zurückhaltend |
|---|
adj displaying an inordinate sensitivity to criticism; cf. thin-skinned
| Deutsch | abwehrend, verletzlich |
|---|
adj in a state or posture of defense
| Deutsch | Abwehr- |
|---|
Talk about this word "defensive." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/defensive. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. defensive. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/defensive "defensive." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/defensive.Cite this
@misc{defensive_2026,
title = {defensive},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/defensive},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
