defensive

English Online Dictionary. What means defensive‎? What does defensive mean?

English

Etymology

From Middle French défensif. Morphologically defense +‎ -ive.

Pronunciation

• (UK, US, Canada) IPA^(key): /dɪˈfɛn.sɪv/
• (General Australian) IPA^(key): /dɪˈfen.sɪv/

Adjective

defensive (comparative more defensive, superlative most defensive)

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. (cricket) 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. (chiefly sports) Pertaining to defense, as opposed to attack.
7. In a state or posture of defense.

Antonyms

• offensive

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

defensive (plural defensives)

1. A means, attitude or position of defense.

Translations

Related terms

• defensive industry
• on the defensive

German

Pronunciation

Adjective

defensive

1. inflection of defensiv:
   1. strong/mixed nominative/accusative feminine singular
   2. strong nominative/accusative plural
   3. weak nominative all-gender singular
   4. weak accusative feminine/neuter singular

Latin

Adjective

dēfēnsīve

1. vocative masculine singular of dēfēnsīvus

Swedish

Adjective

defensive

1. definite natural masculine singular of defensiv