defensive

play

adjective de·fen·sive \ di-ˈfen(t)-siv , ˈdē-ˌ \

Updated on: 11 Sep 2017

Definition of defensive

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

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

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defensively

adverb

—

defensiveness

noun

See defensive defined for English-language learners

See defensive defined for kids

Examples of defensive in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of defensive from the Web

Now the Texans finally can pair Watt with defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, who blossomed with a career-best six sacks in Watt’s absence on a defense that gave up the fewest yards per game in the NFL.

— teresa m. walker, The Seattle Times, "NFL 2017: Titans, Mariota eager to push aside Texans, Colts," 30 Aug. 2017
The team will also rely on creative play-making by midfielders Liadan Stammler and Molly Lynch and strong leadership from defensive players like Courtalis and Natalie Berkey.

— randy mcroberts, The Aegis, "2017 girls soccer preview," 30 Aug. 2017
That’s a big reason, Butler said, why Kahan led the Lions with 18 goals last year from a defensive center midfield position.

— chris melchiorre, Philly.com, "Cherry Hill West boys' soccer is a team game," 29 Aug. 2017
Defensive coordinator Joe Cheshire spoke about Robert to the Bulldogs, explaining six players were needed on the leadership team.

— david woods, Indianapolis Star, "As ailing boy fights for his life, Butler football team joins the fight," 29 Aug. 2017
Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt is hoping to raise a half-million dollars in support of Hurricane Harvey victims.

— fortune editors, Fortune, "Houston Texans’ J.J. Watt Is Raising Hundreds of Thousands for Harvey Victims," 28 Aug. 2017
Senior linebacker Joey Lang (eight tackles) and junior defensive lineman Mark Shields (seven) led a defense that didn’t allow a point until the final 4½ minutes.

— mark stewart, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Milwaukee-area prep football rankings, players and teams of the week," 28 Aug. 2017
East's defensive line, led by Northwestern recruit Devin O'Rourke, Dylan Shelton, Ben Ravetto and Jaden Hacha, applied consistent pressure. O'Rourke and Hacha each had sacks.

— pat disabato, Daily Southtown, "Brendan Morrissey makes impact, lifts Lincoln-Way East past Crete-Monee," 26 Aug. 2017
The U.S. has long maintained that the military exercises, which began Monday and happen twice a year, are defensive.

— adam k. raymond, Daily Intelligencer, "North Korea Mocks Trump’s ‘Weird’ Tweets," 23 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'defensive.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of defensive

see ¹defense

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

defensive Synonyms

Synonyms

protective, self-protective

Antonyms

offensive

Related Words

deterrent, preventive; safe, secure

Near Antonyms

aggressive, bellicose, belligerent, combative, contentious, in-your-face, militant, pugnacious, quarrelsome, scrappy, truculent, warlike

defensive

noun

Definition of defensive

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

— 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

See defensive defined for English-language learners

Examples of defensive in a Sentence

their unexpectedly harsh words put him on the defensive

Recent Examples of defensive from the Web

Well, according to The Hollywood Reporter, the World Clown Association is on the defensive.

— ella ceron, Teen Vogue, "Real Clowns Claim the "It" Movie Is Making Them Lose Work," 28 Aug. 2017
Offensive tackle Parker Ehinger, defensive back Jacoby Glenn, linebackers Tamba Hali and Dadi Nicolas, and defensive tackles Roy Miller and Chris Jones, are also sidelined.

— josh tolentino, kansascity, "Eric Berry, Travis Kelce, Bennie Logan among Chiefs’ inactives vs. 49ers," 11 Aug. 2017
Junior defensive back Cole Cervantes had five interceptions, and also is a sure-handed receiver.

— michael osipoff, Post-Tribune, "Countdown to Football: Fred Winston a dual threat as Griffith's quarterback," 10 Aug. 2017
BEST BETS FOR STATE Southlake Carroll (10-2 in 2016): The Dragons have a healthy competition at quarterback this season, but moreover, depth and 8 returning starters, including defensive lineman Jacob Doddridge and defensive back R.J. Mickens.

— kevin casas, star-telegram, "The grind to achieve Friday night football glory rapidly approaches," 4 Aug. 2017
Grayson began his prep career at San Diego High as a running back and defensive back.

— don norcross, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Dave Grayson, San Diego prep and AFL star, dies at 78," 1 Aug. 2017
Trump’s administration dropped a poorly written, poorly supported policy into the public square, interpreted it as cruelly and maliciously as possible, and has been on the defensive ever since.

— david french, National Review, "Why Must Trump Do the Right Things the Wrong Way?," 26 July 2017
Stine said both players are potential two-way starters at wideout and defensive back.

— rick armstrong, Naperville Sun, "Metea's Jayden Reed could join Payton Thorne in transfer to Naperville Central," 12 June 2017
Vance, 20, is a redshirt defensive back from Detroit.

— CBS News, "Charges filed against 3 Michigan State football players in sex assault case," 6 June 2017

Origin and Etymology of defensive

see ¹defense

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1585

See Words from the same year

defensive Synonyms

Synonyms

guard

Antonyms

offensive

Related Words

alert, lookout, qui vive, watch

DEFENSIVE Defined for English Language Learners

defensive

play

adjective

Definition of defensive for English Language Learners

: defending or protecting someone or something from attack : helping to keep a person or thing safe
: behaving in a way that shows that you feel people are criticizing you
sports : of or relating to the way that players try to stop an opponent from scoring in a game or contest

DEFENSIVE Defined for Kids

defensive

play

adjective de·fen·sive \ di-ˈfen-siv \

Definition of defensive for Students

1 :serving or meant to defend or protect

a defensive structure

2 :relating to the attempt to keep an opponent from scoring

a defensive play

3 :showing a dislike for criticism

She got defensive about my suggestion.

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defensively

adverb

defensive

noun

Definition of defensive for Students

:a position or attitude that is meant to defend

The criticism put him on the defensive.

Medical Dictionary

defensive

play

adjective de·fen·sive \ di-ˈfen(t)-siv , ˈdē-ˌ \

medical Definition of defensive

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

Law Dictionary

defensive

adjective de·fen·sive

legal Definition of defensive

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

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defensively

adverb

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See words that rhyme with defensive Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for defensive Spanish Central: Translation of defensive Nglish: Translation of defensive for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of defensive for Arabic speakers

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defensive

Definition of defensive

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DEFENSIVE Defined for English Language Learners

defensive

Definition of defensive for English Language Learners

DEFENSIVE Defined for Kids

defensive

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defensively

defensive

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Medical Dictionary

defensive

medical Definition of defensive

defensively

defensiveness

Law Dictionary

defensive

legal Definition of defensive

defensively

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