defensive

1 of 2

adjective

de·​fen·​sive di-ˈfen(t)-siv  ˈdē-ˌfen(t)- 

1

: serving to defend or protect

defensive fortifications

2

a

: devoted to resisting or preventing aggression or attack

defensive behavior

He became defensive when I brought up his spending habits.

b

sports : of or relating to the attempt to keep an opponent from scoring in a game or contest

a player with good defensive skills

made a brilliant defensive play

also : of or relating to a team that is not in possession of the ball or puck

a defensive lineman

3

card games

a

: valuable in defensive play

a defensive card in bridge

b

: designed to keep an opponent from being the highest bidder

a defensive bid

defensively adverb

defensiveness noun

defensive

2 of 2

noun

: a position serving to protect or defend : a defensive position

Phrases

on the defensive

: in the state or condition of being prepared or required to defend against attack or criticism

keeping his political opponent on the defensive

Synonyms

Adjective

• protective

Noun

• guard

Examples of defensive in a Sentence

Adjective

The city began building a defensive wall around its borders.

The government decided to join a defensive alliance with several other nations.

I was surprised by his defensive reaction to my suggestion.

There's no need to get so defensive. I was only making a suggestion.

When we asked her about the mistakes, she became defensive.

The coach has a strong defensive strategy.

Noun

their unexpectedly harsh words put him on the defensive

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The Steelers still have a number of star players, including on the defensive side of the ball including former Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt and 14-year veteran Cameron Heyward. —Dj Siddiqi, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025

After walking Kyle Schwarber, Waldron got out of the inning thanks to another fine defensive play — Arraez diving toward the bag to catch a line drive by Bryce Harper and then touching the bag to double up Turner. —Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 June 2025

Noun

Ukraine has largely been on the defensive since its loss in the Battle of Avdiivka in February 2024. —Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 29 June 2025

Coming off a national championship win, Ransom is a tone-setting defensive back who can make plays on the ball. —Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 27 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English defensif, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Medieval Latin dēfensīvus, from Latin dēfensus, past participle of dēfendere "to ward off, defend" + -īvus -ive

Noun

Middle English defensif "something acting as protection," borrowed from Medieval Latin dēfensīvum, noun derivative from neuter of dēfensīvus defensive entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

circa 1585, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing defensive

• defensive medicine
• on the defensive
• self-defensive

Rhymes for defensive

• expensive
• extensive
• intensive
• offensive
• ostensive
• prehensive
• suspensive
• antihypertensive
• apprehensive
• coextensive
• comprehensive
• hypertensive

Kids Definition

defensive

1 of 2 adjective

de·​fen·​sive di-ˈfen(t)-siv  ˈdē-ˌfen(t)- 

1

: serving or intended to defend or protect

a defensive alliance

2

: resisting or preventing attack

defensive behavior

3

: of or relating to the attempt to keep an opponent from scoring in a game or contest

a player with good defensive skills

defensively adverb

defensiveness noun

defensive

2 of 2 noun

: a defensive position

put on the defensive by an attack

Medical Definition

defensive

adjective

de·​fen·​sive di-ˈfen(t)-siv  ˈdē-ˌ 

1

: serving to defend or protect (as the ego)

face-saving is a common defensive reaction

—Psychology Today

2

: devoted to resisting or preventing aggression or attack

defensive behavior

defensively adverb

defensiveness noun

Legal Definition

defensive

adjective

de·​fen·​sive

1

: serving to defend or as part of a defense

a defensive pleading

2

: devoted to resisting or preventing aggressive actions

a defensive recapitalization…to escape a takeover attempt

—Barbara Franklin

defensively adverb