防御的な定義と意味 - メリアム・ウェブスター

DEFENSIVE Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster Est. 1828 Dictionary Definition adjective noun adjective 2 adjective noun Synonyms Example Sentences Word History Phrases Containing Rhymes Entries Near Cite this Entry Citation Kids Definition Kids Medical Definition Medical Legal Definition Legal More from M-W Show more Show more Citation Kids Medical Legal More from M-W Save Word To save this word, you'll need to log in. Log In defensive 1 of 2 adjective de·​fen·​sive di-ˈfen(t)-siv ˈdē-ˌfen(t)- Synonyms of defensive 1 : serving to defend or protect defensive fortifications 2 a : devoted to resisting or preventing aggression or attack defensive behavior He became defensive when I brought up his spending habits. b sports : of or relating to the attempt to keep an opponent from scoring in a game or contest a player with good defensive skills made a brilliant defensive play also : of or relating to a team that is not in possession of the ball or puck a defensive lineman 3 card games a : valuable in defensive play a defensive card in bridge b : designed to keep an opponent from being the highest bidder a defensive bid defensively adverb defensiveness noun defensive 2 of 2 noun : a position serving to protect or defend : a defensive position see also: on the defensive Synonyms of defensive Relevance Adjective protective Noun guard See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus Examples of defensive in a Sentence Adjective The city began building a defensive wall around its borders. The government decided to join a defensive alliance with several other nations. I was surprised by his defensive reaction to my suggestion. There's no need to get so defensive . I was only making a suggestion. When we asked her about the mistakes, she became defensive . The coach has a strong defensive strategy. Noun their unexpectedly harsh words put him on the defensive See More Recent Examples on the Web Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback . Adjective Ever the optimist, Obama shifted out of his defensive posture. — Peter Slevin, New Yorker , 4 May 2026 Stay curious instead of defensive . — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant , 3 May 2026 Noun McCarthy reached for Shakespeare’s words while on the defensive in the Army-McCarthy hearings. — Charlie Tyson, The Atlantic , 27 Apr. 2026 The current Bills player who could stand in the way of this pairing is second-year defensive back Jordan Hancock. — Joe Buscaglia, New York Times , 25 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for defensive Word History Etymology Adjective Middle English defensif, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Medieval Latin dēfensīvus, from Latin dēfensus, past participle of dēfendere "to ward off, defend " + -īvus -ive Noun Middle English defensif "something acting as protection," borrowed from Medieval Latin dēfensīvum, noun derivative from neuter of dēfensīvus defensive entry 1 First Known Use Adjective 14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Noun circa 1585, in the meaning defined above Time Traveler The first known use of defensive was in the 14th century See more words from the same century Phrases Containing defensive defensive medicine on the defensive self - defensive Rhymes for defensive expensive extensive intensive offensive ostensive prehensive suspensive antihypertensive apprehensive coextensive comprehensive hypertensive See All Rhymes for defensive Browse Nearby Words defensible defensive defensive allegation See all Nearby Words Cite this Entry Style MLA Chicago APA Merriam-Webster “Defensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defensive. Accessed 6 May. 2026. Copy Citation Kids Definition defensive 1 of 2 adjective de·​fen·​sive di-ˈfen(t)-siv ˈdē-ˌfen(t)- 1 : serving or intended to defend or protect a defensive alliance 2 : resisting or preventing attack defensive behavior 3 : of or relating to the attempt to keep an opponent from scoring in a game or contest a player with good defensive skills defensively adverb defensiveness noun defensive 2 of 2 noun : a defensive position put on the defensive by an attack Medical Definition defensive adjective de·​fen·​sive di-ˈfen(t)-siv ˈdē-ˌ 1 : serving to defend or protect (as the ego) face-saving is a common defensive reaction — Psychology Today 2 : devoted to resisting or preventing aggression or attack defensive behavior defensively adverb defensiveness noun Legal Definition defensive adjective de·​fen·​sive 1 : serving to defend or as part of a defense a defensive pleading 2 : devoted to resisting or preventing aggressive actions a defensive recapitalization…to escape a takeover attempt — Barbara Franklin defensively adverb More from Merriam-Webster on defensive Nglish: Translation of defensive for Spanish Speakers Last Updated: 4 May 2026 - Updated example sentences Love words? 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