defensive

adj.

1. Intended or appropriate for defending; protective.
2. 1. Intended to withstand or deter aggression or attack: a defensive weapons system; defensive behavior.
   2. Of or relating to the effort to prevent an opponent from gaining points in a game or athletic contest.
   3. Performed so as to avoid risk, danger, or legal liability: defensive driving; defensive medicine,
3. Of or relating to defense.
4. Psychology. Constantly protecting oneself from criticism, exposure of one's shortcomings, or other real or perceived threats to the ego.

n.

1. A means of defense.
2. An attitude or position of defense.

idiom:

on the defensive

1. Prepared to withstand or counter aggression or attack.

defensively de·fen'sive·ly adv.
defensiveness de·fen'sive·ness n.

adj

Definition: protective, watchful
Antonyms: undefensive, unprotective, unwary, unwatchful

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Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.

The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: an attitude of defense; especially in the phrase"on the defensive"
  Synonym: defensive attitude

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The adjective defensive has 3 meanings:

Meaning #1: intended or appropriate for defending against or deterring aggression or attack
  Antonym: offensive (meaning #2)

Meaning #2: attempting to justify or defend in speech or writing
  Synonyms: excusatory, justificative, justificatory

Meaning #3: serving as or appropriate for defending or protecting

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Dansk (Danish)
adj. - defensiv, forsvars-
n. - forsvarsposition, defensiv

idioms:

• on the defensive    i defensiven, værne sig mod kritik

Nederlands (Dutch)
verdedigings-, defensief, afweermiddel, verdedigend

Français (French)
adj. - (Mil, fig) défensif
n. - (Mil) défensive, (lit, fig) sur la défensive

idioms:

• on the defensive    sur la défensive

Deutsch (German)
adj. - defensiv
n. - Defensive, Verteidigungs-

idioms:

• on the defensive    in der Defensive

Ελληνική (Greek)
adj. - αμυντικός

idioms:

• on the defensive    εν αμύνη, που τηρεί αμυντική στάση

Italiano (Italian)
difensivo

idioms:

• on the defensive    sulla difensiva

Português (Portuguese)
adj. - defensivo

idioms:

• on the defensive    na defensiva

Русский (Russian)
оборонительный, оправдывающийся

idioms:

• on the defensive    в обороне

Español (Spanish)
adj. - defensivo, estable, inversión de bajo riesgo
n. - defensivo, algo que sirve de defensa

idioms:

• on the defensive    a la defensiva

Svenska (Swedish)
adj. - defensiv, i försvarsställning

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
防卫的, 辩护的, 防备用的, 守势, 防守状态, 防御物

idioms:

• on the defensive    在防守, 处于守势

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
adj. - 防衛的, 辯護的, 防備用的
n. - 守勢, 防守狀態, 防禦物

idioms:

• on the defensive    在防守, 處於守勢

한국어 (Korean)
adj. - 수비의, 화를 잘 내는, 변호의
n. - 방어, 변호

日本語 (Japanese)
adj. - 防御的な, 防御用の, 弁護の, 守勢の, 防御の
n. - 防御の構え, 守勢, 弁護, 防御

idioms:

• on the defensive    防御の構えをとって

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(صفه) دفاعي‏

עברית (Hebrew)
adj. - ‮הגנתי‬
n. - ‮עמדת הגנה‬

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