defensive

defensive — adjective

1. Made or used for protecting people, places, or things against physical attack or

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

Made or used for protecting people, places, or things against physical attack or harm.

Example

A defensive wall along the border helped keep the enemy out.

defensive wall / defensive line

The soldiers were equipped with defensive weapons such as shields and batons.

defensive weapons

Common collocations
  • defensive wall
  • defensive position
  • defensive line
  • defensive tactic
  • defensive weapons
  • defensive measure
Synonyms
  • protective

    Broader term — includes general safety (e.g. protective clothing) beyond military/attack contexts.

  • guarding

    More active — implies someone is physically watching over something.

  • safeguarding

    More formal; used in legal or procedural contexts rather than physical barriers.

Antonyms
  • offensive

    Used for attacking rather than protecting.

  • aggressive

    In military contexts, describes forces that strike first rather than defend.

Usage Note

This sense relates to physical, military, or structural protection. For emotional or psychological self-protection when criticized, see sense 2 (SENSITIVE TO CRITICISM). Commonly passive in construction: 'be defensive' describes the thing itself, not a person's reaction.

Common Mistakes

She put on a defensive helmet before riding.
She put on a protective helmet before riding.
'defensive' is used for protection against attack, not for general safety gear like bike helmets.

2. Behaving as if you are being attacked or criticised when you are not, or reactin

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

Behaving as if you are being attacked or criticised when you are not, or reacting too strongly to mild negative feedback.

Example

When I asked Haruto about his mistake, he became defensive and raised his voice.

became defensive

Getting defensive when a colleague offers advice can hurt your relationships at work.

getting defensive

Common collocations
  • get defensive
  • become defensive
  • feel defensive
  • defensive attitude
  • defensive reaction
  • defensive response
  • defensive about
Synonyms
  • touchy

    Less formal, slightly stronger — suggests irritation at even harmless comments.

  • oversensitive

    Focuses on the excessive reaction rather than the act of defending.

  • thin-skinned

    Informal idiom; implies the person is easily hurt by criticism.

Antonyms
  • open-minded

    Willing to listen to criticism without feeling attacked.

  • receptive

    Able to accept feedback calmly and consider it.

Grammar Patterns

be/get/become defensive

defensive about + noun/-ing

Usage Note

Typically used as a predicate adjective after 'be', 'get', 'become', or 'feel'. The preposition 'about' introduces the trigger: 'defensive about his grades.' Avoid using this sense for physical protection — that is sense 1 (PROTECTING FROM ATTACK).

Common Mistakes

He wore a defensive jacket.
He wore a protective jacket.
For physical safety gear, use 'protective' not the psychological sense of 'defensive'.

3. Relating to the part of a game or sport where a team or player tries to stop the

3.adjectiveB1
Definition

Relating to the part of a game or sport where a team or player tries to stop the other side from scoring.

Example

Asher is the best defensive player on the basketball team.

defensive player

The coach changed the team's defensive strategy at half-time.

defensive strategy

Common collocations
  • defensive player
  • defensive strategy
  • defensive line
  • defensive play
  • defensive formation
  • defensive end
  • defensive coordinator
Synonyms
  • defending

    Can be used similarly ('the defending team'), but 'defensive' is the standard adjective form in sports contexts.

  • preventive

    Broader and less common in sports; used in general contexts for stopping something from happening.

Antonyms
  • offensive

    The attacking side of a game, focused on scoring rather than preventing goals.

  • attacking

    Describes players or tactics that prioritise scoring over prevention.

Usage Note

Often used before a noun (attributive position): 'defensive player,' 'defensive line,' 'defensive formation.' The opposite in sports is 'offensive' — a team has both a defensive unit and an offensive unit.

defensive — noun

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All three words relate to keeping someone or something safe, but they differ in emphasis and use. 'Defensive' is the most specific to repelling an active attack — a defensive wall is built because an enemy is expected. 'Protective' is broader: it covers general safety and care, whether or not there is a deliberate attacker (e.g. protective goggles, a protective parent). 'Defending' is the active verb form; it emphasises the action in progress ('the defending army held the gate'). In everyday language, 'protective' is the safest choice for non-military safety. 'Defensive' often carries a psychological meaning outside military contexts (see sense 2), so using it for physical safety can sound odd — you would not say 'a defensive jacket' for a motorcycle rider; you would say 'a protective jacket.'

defensive ↗protective ↗defending

Common collocations

Nouns

  • defensive mechanism
  • defensive stance
  • defensive attitude

Adverbs

  • extremely defensive
  • overly defensive
  • purely defensive
  • almost defensive

Phrases

  • on the defensive
  • put someone on the defensive
  • go on the defensive

Prepositions

  • defensive about

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word comes from Latin 'defensus,' the past participle of 'defendere' (to ward off, protect), combined with the suffix '-ive' meaning 'tending to.' It passed through French 'défensif / défensive' before entering English in the late 1300s. Originally used only in military contexts, the psychological sense (reacting to criticism) developed in the mid-20th century.