DEFENSIVE, adjective 1. That serves to defend; proper for defense; as defensive armor, which repels attacks or blows, opposed to offensive arms, which are used in attack. 2. Carried on in resisting attack or aggression; as defensive war, in distinction from offensive war, which is aggressive. 3. In a state or posture to defend. DEFENSIVE, noun Safeguard; that which defends. Wars preventive, upon just fears, are true defensives. To be on the defensive or to stand on the defensive is to be or stand in a state or posture of defense or resistance, in opposition to aggrression or attack.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI