DEFENSIVE

a. n.

4 definitions — Webster’s Dictionary (1828)

1.
a.

Serving to defend or protect; proper for defense; opposed to offensive; as, defensive armor. A moat defensive to a house. Shak.

2.
a.

Carried on by resisting attack or aggression; -- opposed to offensive; as, defensive war.

3.
a.

In a state or posture of defense. Milton.

4.
n.

That which defends; a safeguard. Wars preventive, upon just fears, are true defensive. Bacon. To be on the defensive, To stand on the defensive, to be or stand in a state or posture of defense or resistance, in opposition to aggression or attack.

← DEFENSIBLENESS D — all words DEFENSIVELY →
Browse all “D” words Find “DEFENSIVE” in other definitions

98,828 entries. Headwords are matched first, then definition text.