English Explanatory Dictionary

defensive

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Intended for defence; protective.
  2. Intended to deter attack.
  3. Performed so as to minimise risk.
  4. Displaying an inordinate sensitivity to criticism or intrusion; oversensitive; thin-skinned.
  5. Of a bowling or fielding tactic designed to prevent the other side from scoring runs; of a batting tactic designed to prevent being out.
  6. Pertaining to defense, as opposed to attack.
  7. In a state or posture of defense.
noun
  1. A means, attitude or position of defense. Chiefly in on the defensive.

Pronunciation

/dɪˈfɛn.sɪv/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Wodencafe-defensive.wav /dɪˈfen.sɪv/ en-au-defensive.ogg /dəˈfen.səv/

Word forms

defensive more defensive most defensive defensives

Etymology

From Middle French défensif. Morphologically defense + -ive.

Antonyms

offensive

Related words

defensive industry on the defensive

Derived words

counterdefensive cyberdefensive defensive back defensive copy defensive copying defensive design defensive field defensive halfback defensive indifference defensive line defensive lineman defensive line of scrimmage defensively defensive medicine defensive midfielder defensiveness defensive programming defensive spiral defensive tackle defensive wound defensive zone hyperdefensive immunodefensive indefensive nondefensive offensive and defensive alliance overdefensive self-defensive undefensive
This entry uses open data from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA/GFDL). Word forms are used for search and are not indexed as separate pages.
Back to search All on D Russian dictionary Dahl dictionary