# defensive

Pronunciation: say "di-FEN-siv" US/UK /dɪˈfɛn.sɪv/, AUS /dɪˈfen.sɪv/

## Adjective

1. Made or designed to protect, rather than to attack.
   - Simple: Made to protect something from attack or harm.
   - _Engineers reinforced the harbor with a series of defensive structures._
   - _The fortress relied on a deep moat as its main defensive feature._
2. Showing excessive sensitivity to criticism or perceived intrusion; quick to guard oneself against blame.
   - Simple: Quick to feel hurt or attacked by what others say, and fast to protect yourself.
   - _Every time feedback came up, he turned defensive and changed the subject._
   - _Her defensive tone made it hard to give her honest advice._
3. Designed to discourage or deter an attack before it happens.
   - Simple: Made to stop an enemy from attacking.
   - _The treaty limited each side's stockpile of defensive weapons._
   - _Guard dogs served as a defensive deterrent around the warehouse._
4. Relating to defense rather than to attacking, as in a team's protective side of play.
   - Simple: About stopping the other team from scoring, not about attacking.
   - _The team switched to a defensive formation to protect their lead._
   - _Her defensive positioning blocked several scoring chances._
5. In a position or posture ready to protect against attack.
   - Simple: Ready to protect yourself or guard against attack.
   - _Cornered by the pack, the elk turned defensive and lowered its head._
   - _The troops remained defensive along the ridge until reinforcements arrived._
6. Carried out so as to minimize risk.
   - Simple: Done carefully to avoid danger or mistakes.
   - _His defensive approach to investing kept his savings safe during the crash._
   - _The pilot made a defensive maneuver to keep clear of the storm cell._
8. In cricket, describing a bowling or fielding tactic meant to stop the other side scoring runs, or a batting tactic meant to avoid being out.
   - Simple: In cricket, meant to stop the other team scoring runs, or to avoid getting out.
   - _Facing the spinner, she adopted a defensive technique to protect her wicket._
   - _The bowler held a tight defensive line outside off stump._

## Noun

7. A position or attitude of resisting attack, or the means used to defend oneself.
   - Simple: A way of protecting yourself, or being ready to do so.
   - _Pressed by hostile questions, the minister was thrown onto the defensive._
   - _Once they lost the lead, the whole team retreated into a stubborn defensive._

## Origin

From Middle French "défensif," and formed from "defense" plus the suffix "-ive."

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/defensive (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).