The meaning of DEFENSIVE is serving to defend or protect. How to use defensive in a sentence.

If someone is defensive, the person feels criticized and quickly tries to explain:

2. of or pertaining to defense. 3. sensitive to the threat of criticism or injury to one's ego. n. 4. a position or attitude of defense: on the defensive about one's mistakes.

Synonyms for DEFENSIVE: protective, self-protective, preventive, deterrent, secure, safe, guard, lookout; Antonyms of DEFENSIVE: offensive, aggressive, belligerent, warlike, combative, …

American defensive formations usually includes two of each, a left and right cornerback, as well as a strong safety and a free safety, with the free safety tending to play further back than the …

Sep 22, 2025 · defensive (comparative more defensive, superlative most defensive) Intended for defence; protective.

Mar 3, 2025 · When it comes to "defencive" versus "defensive," you might feel unsure. So, which one is correct? The right way to spell it is defensive. This is the form you’ll see in dictionaries …

When a person is acting defensive, they're trying to protect or justify themselves. People who are insecure or guilty tend to act defensive. Also, defensive players in football try to prevent the …

Master the word "DEFENSIVE" in English: definitions, translations, synonyms, pronunciations, examples, and grammar insights - all in one complete resource.

There are 17 meanings listed in OED's entry for the word defensive, five of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.