Lexic.us

Definition of Defensive

1. Adjective. Intended or appropriate for defending against or deterring aggression or attack. "A defensive stance"

2. Noun. An attitude of defensiveness (especially in the phrase 'on the defensive').

3. Adjective. Attempting to justify or defend in speech or writing.

Definition of Defensive

1. a. Serving to defend or protect; proper for defense; opposed to offensive; as, defensive armor.

2. n. That which defends; a safeguard.

Definition of Defensive

1. Adjective. Intended for defence; protective ¹

2. Adjective. Intended to deter attack ¹

3. Adjective. Performed so as to minimise risk ¹

4. Adjective. Displaying an inordinate sensitivity to criticism; compare paranoid ¹

5. Adjective. (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. ¹

6. Adjective. (sports) pertaining to defense, as opposed to attack. ¹

7. Noun. A means, attitude or position of defense. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Defensive

1. [n -S]

Lexicographical Neighbors of Defensive

defensed defenseless defenselessly defenselessness defenses defensibilities defensibility defensible defensibleness defensibly

defensin defensing defensins defensive defensive attitude defensive circle defensive design defensive designs defensive field defensive halfback

defensive indifference defensive measure defensive medicine defensive midfielder defensive programming defensive programmings defensive structure

Literary usage of Defensive

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The American Journal of International Law by American Society of International Law (1918)
"EXECUTIVE ORDER ESTABLISHING ADDITIONAL Defensive SEA ABBA No. 2597. ... The designated entrances to the defensive sea area herein established shall be as ..."

2. Elements of International Law: With a Sketch of the History of the Science by Henry Wheaton (1836)
"An alliance may also be both offensive and defensive. $ 12. General alliances are to be distinguished from treaties of between'°" ..."

3. Drug Addiction Research & the Health of Women edited by Cora L. Wetherington (1999)
"She defined "defensive behavior" as a large number of actions taken by humans or ... She asserted that anxiety, depression, and defensive behaviors involve ..."

4. On War by Carl von Clausewitz, James John Graham, Frederic Natusch Maude (1908)
"... that is to say, there are no means at its disposal by which to counterbalance this advantage. But defensive positions are not all really of this kind. ..."

5. The Law of Nations, Or, Principles of the Law of Nature Applied to the by Emer de Vattel, Joseph Chitty, Edward Duncan Ingraham (1867)
"Defen- Under this relation, alliances made for warlike purposes are •ire and of- divided in general into defensive and offensive alliances. ..."

6. The Law of Nations: Or, Principles of the Law of Nature, Applied to the by Emer de Vattel, Joseph Chitty (1883)
"Some alliances are both offensive and defensive ; and there seldom is an offensive alliance which is not also a defensive one. ..."

7. The Rebellion Record: A Diary of American Events by Frank Moore, Edward Everett (1868)
"We cannot remain here on the defensive. With the twenty-five thousand men, ... Instead of my being on the defensive, I would be on the offensive ; instead ..."

Other Resources: