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defensive

 - 5 dictionary results

de⋅fen⋅sive

  [di-fen-siv]
Use defensive in a Sentence
–adjective
1. serving to defend; protective: defensive armament.
2. made or carried on for the purpose of resisting attack: defensive treaty; a defensive attitude.
3. of or pertaining to defense.
4. (of stocks, securities, etc.)
a. able to provide moderately steady growth with minimal risk: The bank has put a large percentage of its assets in defensive rather than growth stocks.
b. considered stable and relatively safe for investment, esp. during a decline in the economy.
5. excessively concerned with guarding against the real or imagined threat of criticism, injury to one's ego, or exposure of one's shortcomings.
–noun
6. a position or attitude of defense: to be on the defensive about one's mistakes.
7. Obsolete. something that serves to defend.
Origin:
1350–1400; < ML dēfēnsīvus (see defense, -ive ); r. ME defensif < MF < ML, as above

Related forms:
de⋅fen⋅sive⋅ly, adverb
de⋅fen⋅sive⋅ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To defensive
de·fen·sive   (dĭ-fěn'sĭv)   
adj.  

  1. Intended or appropriate for defending; protective.

    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.

de·fen'sive·ly adv., de·fen'sive·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: de·fen·sive
Function: adjective
1 : serving to defend or as part of a defense defensive pleading>
2 : devoted to resisting or preventing aggressive actions defensive recapitalization…to escape a takeover attempt —Barbara Franklin> —de·fen·sive·ly adverb
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: de·fen·sive
Pronunciation: di-'fen(t)-siv, 'dE-"
Function: adjective
1 : serving to defend or protect (as the ego)defensive reaction —Psychology Today>
2 : devoted to resisting or preventing aggression or attack <defensivebehavior> —de·fen·sive·ly adverb —de·fen·sive·ness noun
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Idioms & Phrases

defensive

see on the defensive.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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