de·fen·sive
di-ˈfen(t)-siv 
ˈdē-ˌfen(t)-
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
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
Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 2 May 2025
Świątek’s defensive footwork and general movement, which is close to peerless and one of her greatest strengths, was absent.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 1 May 2025
Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025
Other Republicans have been put on the defensive by the administration’s handling of the controversial case.
—Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defensive
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Adjective
Kraft hired Belichick twice, first in 1996 as assistant head coach and defensive backs coach under head coach Bill Parcells, and again in 2000 as head coach.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 2 May 2025
Świątek’s defensive footwork and general movement, which is close to peerless and one of her greatest strengths, was absent.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 1 May 2025
Noun
The Seahawks can't let Barron's numbers and impressive tape convince them to take the Texas defensive back.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025
Other Republicans have been put on the defensive by the administration’s handling of the controversial case.
—Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defensive
Cite this Entry
“Defensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defensive. Accessed 9 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
defensive
1 of 2 adjective
de·fen·sive
di-ˈfen(t)-siv
ˈdē-ˌfen(t)-
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
ˈdē-ˌ
1
: serving to defend or protect (as the ego)
face-saving is a common defensive reaction—Psychology Today
Psychology Today2
: 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
Barbara Franklin
defensively
adverb
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