defensive

English

Etymology

From Middle French défensif. Morphologically defense +‎ -ive.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /dɪˈfɛnsɪv/

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

Adjective

defensive (comparative more defensive, superlative most defensive)

1. Intended for defence; protective.

   a defensive perimeter

   • Defence definition

     The action of defending, of protecting from attack, danger or injury. (1 of 7 defence definitions)

   • Protective definition

     Serving or intended to protect. (1 of 2 protective definitions)
2. Intended to deter attack.

   a defensive missile system

   • Attack definition

     An attempt to cause damage, injury to, or death of opponent or enemy. (1 of 12 attack definitions)
3. Performed so as to minimise risk.

   defensive driving

   • Risk definition

     The probability of a negative outcome to a decision or event. (1 of 9 risk definitions)
4. Displaying an inordinate sensitivity to criticism or intrusion; oversensitive; thin-skinned.

   • Inordinate definition

     Excessive; unreasonable or inappropriate in magnitude; extreme.

   • Sensitivity definition

     The quality or state of being sensitive; sensitiveness. (1 of 5 sensitivity definitions)

   • Criticism definition

     The act of criticising; a critical judgment passed or expressed (1 of 2 criticism definitions)

   • Intrusion definition

     The forcible inclusion or entry of an external group or individual; the act of intruding. (1 of 4 intrusion definitions)

   • Oversensitive definition

     Having excessive sensitivity; reacting to stimuli too readily; thin-skinned.

   • Thin-Skinned definition

     Overly sensitive to criticism; quick to take offence; irritable; touchy (1 of 2 thin-skinned definitions)
5. (cricket) Of a bowling or fielding tactic designed to prevent the other side from scoring runs; of a batting tactic designed to prevent being out.

   • Cricket definition

     (1 of 5 cricket definitions)

   • Bowling definition

     present participle of bowl

   • Fielding definition

     present participle of field

   • Tactic definition

     A maneuver, or action calculated to achieve some end. (1 of 3 tactic definitions)

   • Batting definition

     Cotton, wool, silk or synthetic material used to stuff the inside of a mattress, quilt etc. (1 of 2 batting definitions)
6. (chiefly sports) Pertaining to defense, as opposed to attack.

   The victim held up his hand to repel the attacker and received a defensive knife wound.

   • 2011 September 2, Phil McNulty, “Bulgaria 0-3 England”, in BBC‎^[1]:

     The Italian opted for Bolton's Cahill alongside captain John Terry - and his decision was rewarded with a goal after only 13 minutes. Bulgaria gave a hint of defensive frailties to come when they failed to clear Young's corner, and when Gareth Barry found Cahill in the box he applied the finish past Nikolay Mihaylov.

   • Sports definition

     plural of sport

   • Defense definition

     The action of defending or protecting from attack, danger, or injury. (1 of 9 defense definitions)
7. In a state or posture of defense.
   • 1671, John Milton, “Samson Agonistes, […]”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J. M[acock] for John Starkey […], OCLC 228732398, lines 48–49, pages 63–64:

     […] Once join'd, the contrary ſhe proves, a thorn
     Inteſtin, far within defenſive arms […]

Antonyms

• offensive

Translations

Noun

defensive (plural defensives)

1. A means, attitude or position of defense.
   • 2007 May 26, Julia Werdigier, “Consolidating the Banks of Europe”, in New York Times‎^[2]:

     Such kinds of defensives are really rather protecting the local companies than the consumers.

   • Means definition

     plural of mean

   • Attitude definition

     The position of the body or way of carrying oneself. (1 of 5 attitude definitions)

   • Position definition

     A place or location. (1 of 11 position definitions)

Translations

Related terms

• defensive industry
• on the defensive

German

Pronunciation

• Audio

  (file)

Adjective

defensive

1. inflection of defensiv:
   1. strong/mixed nominative/accusative feminine singular
   2. strong nominative/accusative plural
   3. weak nominative all-gender singular
   4. weak accusative feminine/neuter singular

   • Defensiv definition

     defensive

Latin

Adjective

dēfēnsīve

1. vocative masculine singular of dēfēnsīvus

   • Defensivus definition

     defensive (1 of 3 defensivus definitions)