The meaning of DEFENSIVE is serving to defend or protect. How to use defensive in a sentence.

If someone is defensive, the person feels criticized and quickly tries to explain:

Intended or appropriate for defending; protective. 2. a. Intended to withstand or deter aggression or attack: a defensive weapons system; defensive behavior. b. Of or relating to the effort to prevent an …

DEFENSIVE definition: serving to defend; protective. See examples of defensive used in a sentence.

Dec 14, 2025 · Adjective defensive (comparative more defensive, superlative most defensive) Intended for defence; protective.

Mar 3, 2025 · When it comes to "defencive" versus "defensive," you might feel unsure. So, which one is correct? The right way to spell it is defensive. This is the form you’ll see in dictionaries and is widely …

There are 17 meanings listed in OED's entry for the word defensive, five of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

When a person is acting defensive, they're trying to protect or justify themselves. People who are insecure or guilty tend to act defensive. Also, defensive players in football try to prevent the other …

Defensive definition: Of or relating to defense.

Someone who is defensive is behaving in a way that shows they feel unsure or threatened. Like their children, parents are often defensive about their private lives. She heard the blustering, defensive …