What does "defensive" mean?
Defensive: Carried on by resisting attack or aggression; -- opposed to offensive; as, defensive war.
Additional senses
- 2.In a state or posture of defense. Milton.
- 3.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.
Sources
- Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).
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- Published: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00 · Modified: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00