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defensive. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
defensive, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
defensive in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
defensive you have here. The definition of the word
defensive will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
defensive, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
From Middle French défensif. Morphologically defense + -ive.
Pronunciation
Adjective
defensive (comparative more defensive, superlative most defensive)
- Intended for defence; protective.
a defensive perimeter
- Intended to deter attack.
a defensive missile system
- Performed so as to minimise risk.
defensive driving
- Displaying an inordinate sensitivity to criticism or intrusion; oversensitive; thin-skinned.
- (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.
- (chiefly sports) Pertaining to defense, as opposed to attack.
The victim held up his hand to repel the attacker and received a defensive knife wound.
2011 September 2, Phil McNulty, “Bulgaria 0-3 England”, in BBC:The Italian opted for Bolton's Cahill alongside captain John Terry - and his decision was rewarded with a goal after only 13 minutes. Bulgaria gave a hint of defensive frailties to come when they failed to clear Young's corner, and when Gareth Barry found Cahill in the box he applied the finish past Nikolay Mihaylov.
- In a state or posture of defense.
1671, John Milton, “Samson Agonistes, .”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: J M for John Starkey , →OCLC, pages 63–64, lines 48–49:[…] Once join'd, the contrary ſhe proves, a thorn
Inteſtin, far within defenſive arms […]
Antonyms
Derived terms
Translations
intended for defence; protective
- Armenian: պաշտպանական (hy) (paštpanakan)
- Belarusian: абаро́нны (abarónny), ахо́ўны (be) (axóŭny)
- Bulgarian: защитен (bg) (zaštiten), отбранителен (bg) (otbranitelen)
- Catalan: defensiu (ca), que defensa, que defend, defensant (ca), defenent (ca)
- Czech: obranný (cs) m
- Dutch: defensief (nl), beschermend (nl)
- Finnish: puolustus-, puolustusta varten
- French: défensif (fr), defendant (fr)
- Galician: defensivo m
- German: Verteidigungs-, Abwehr-
- Greek: αμυντικός (el) (amyntikós)
- Hungarian: védelmi (hu), védekező (hu), defenzív (hu)
- Ido: defensiva (io)
- Italian: difensivo (it), difendente (it), che difende
- Latin: defensīvus, defensāns, defendēns
- Polish: obronny (pl), defensywny
- Portuguese: defensivo (pt), defensante, que defensa
- Romanian: defensiv (ro) m
- Russian: оборони́тельный (ru) (oboronítelʹnyj), защи́тный (ru) (zaščítnyj)
- Spanish: defensivo (es), que defensa, defensante
- Ukrainian: оборо́нний (oborónnyj), захисни́й (zaxysnýj)
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displaying an inordinate sensitivity to criticism; cf. thin-skinned
in a state or posture of defense
Translations to be checked
Noun
defensive (plural defensives)
- A means, attitude or position of defense.
2007 May 26, Julia Werdigier, “Consolidating the Banks of Europe”, in New York Times:Such kinds of defensives are really rather protecting the local companies than the consumers.
Translations
means, attitude or position
German
Pronunciation
Adjective
defensive
- inflection of defensiv:
- strong/mixed nominative/accusative feminine singular
- strong nominative/accusative plural
- weak nominative all-gender singular
- weak accusative feminine/neuter singular
Latin
Adjective
dēfēnsīve
- vocative masculine singular of dēfēnsīvus
Swedish
Adjective
defensive
- definite natural masculine singular of defensiv