defensive

C1 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /dɪˈfen.sɪv/ UK /dɪˈfɛn.sɪv/ See IPA manual

Freq #7280

Meanings

1

adj
Used or intended to protect against attack.

The army built a defensive wall around the city.
2

adj
Quick to protect yourself from criticism, often by arguing back.

He became defensive when his work was questioned.
3

adj
Done in a careful way to reduce risk.

Defensive driving can help you avoid accidents.

Thesaurus

Opposites

offensive

Word family

Forms defensively

Derived forms counterdefensivecyberdefensivedefensivelydefensivenesshyperdefensiveimmunodefensiveindefensivenondefensiveoverdefensiveself-defensiveundefensive

Appears in

Phrases (2)

See all

Etymology

From Middle French défensif. Morphologically defense + -ive.

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# defensive

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /dɪˈfen.sɪv/
**IPA (UK):** /dɪˈfɛn.sɪv/
**Frequency rank:** 7280

## Meanings
1. Used or intended to protect against attack.
2. Quick to protect yourself from criticism, often by arguing back.
3. Done in a careful way to reduce risk.

## Examples
- The army built a defensive wall around the city.
- He became defensive when his work was questioned.
- Defensive driving can help you avoid accidents.

## Antonyms
- offensive

## Derived Forms
- counterdefensive
- cyberdefensive
- defensively
- defensiveness
- hyperdefensive
- immunodefensive
- indefensive
- nondefensive
- overdefensive
- self-defensive
- undefensive

## Etymology
From Middle French défensif. Morphologically defense + -ive.

## AI Etymology
Defensive comes from Middle French défensif. Morphologically defense + -ive. The surrounding word family includes derived forms such as counterdefensive, cyberdefensive, defensively, and defensiveness. In present use it covers used or intended to protect against attack, quick to protect yourself from criticism, often by arguing back, and done in a careful way to reduce risk.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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