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
Synonyms
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
Danny Davis, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
New York Jets defensive line will premiere on December 13.
—Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 20 Nov. 2024
Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2024
Cable channel owners have been on the defensive in recent negotiations with cable providers.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for defensive 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Adjective
Kansas City defensive end Charles Omenihu played at Texas from 2015-18.
—Danny Davis, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
New York Jets defensive line will premiere on December 13.
—Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 20 Nov. 2024
Noun
Trump’s focus on Kennedy’s fringe issues has forced surrogates to go on the defensive.
—Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2024
Cable channel owners have been on the defensive in recent negotiations with cable providers.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for defensive
Dictionary Entries Near defensive
Cite this Entry
“Defensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defensive. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
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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