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View synonyms for

defensive

[ dih-fen-siv ]

adjective

  1. serving to defend; protective:

    defensive armament.

  2. made or carried on for the purpose of resisting attack:

    defensive treaty;

    a defensive attitude.

  3. of or relating to defense.
  4. (of stocks, securities, etc.)
    1. 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.

    2. considered stable and relatively safe for investment, especially during a decline in the economy.
  5. excessively concerned with guarding against the real or imagined threat of criticism, injury to one's ego, or exposure of one's shortcomings.


noun

  1. a position or attitude of defense:

    to be on the defensive about one's mistakes.

  2. Obsolete. something that serves to defend.

defensive

/ ɪˈɛԲɪ /

adjective

  1. intended, suitable, or done for defence, as opposed to offence
  2. rejecting criticisms of oneself or covering up one's failings
“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

noun

  1. a position of defence
  2. on the defensive
    in an attitude or position of defence, as in being ready to reject criticism
“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
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Derived Forms

  • ˈڱԲԱ, noun
  • ˈڱԲ, adverb
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Other yvlogs From

  • ·ڱ·· adverb
  • ·ڱ··Ա noun
  • ԴDz··ڱ· adjective
  • non··ڱ·· adverb
  • ···ڱ· adjective
  • o·ver··ڱ·· adverb
  • ···ڱ· adjective
  • sem·i··ڱ·· adverb
  • ܲ··ڱ· adjective
  • un··ڱ·· adverb
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yvlog History and Origins

Origin of defensive1

First recorded in 1350–1400; from Medieval Latin ŧŧԲīܲ ( defense, -ive ); replacing Middle English defensif, from Middle French, from Medieval Latin, as above
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Idioms and Phrases

see on the defensive .
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Example Sentences

Bukayo Saka was back for the Gunners against Fulham and he will obviously boost their attack but they have picked up a few defensive injuries, including Gabriel being out for the rest of the season.

From

Her defense also improved by leaps and bounds, enough so that she was a finalist for defensive player of the year.

From

The Bruins have a star in their own right with center Lauren Betts, who earned Naismith defensive player of the year Wednesday.

From

Progressive media, by contrast, remains trapped in a reactive, defensive posture, often litigating GOP narratives rather than setting its own.

From

Crucially, he also felt Elanga was aware of the space around him and didn't forget his defensive duties, even if his preference was to go forward.

From

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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

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