Meanings
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1
adj
Used or intended to protect against attack.
The army built a defensive wall around the city.
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2
adj
Quick to protect yourself from criticism, often by arguing back.
He became defensive when his work was questioned.
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3
adj
Done in a careful way to reduce risk.
Defensive driving can help you avoid accidents.
Thesaurus
Opposites
Word family
Forms
defensively
Derived forms
counterdefensivecyberdefensivedefensivelydefensivenesshyperdefensiveimmunodefensiveindefensivenondefensiveoverdefensiveself-defensiveundefensive
Etymology
From Middle French défensif. Morphologically defense + -ive.