defensive: Meaning and Definition of

de•fen•sive

1. serving to defend; protective: defensive armament.
2. made or carried on for the purpose of resisting attack: defensive treaty; a defensive attitude.
3. of or pertaining to defense.
4. (of stocks, securities, etc.) The bank has put a large percentage of its assets in defensive rather than growth stocks.
1. able to provide moderately steady growth with minimal risk:The bank has put a large percentage of its assets in defensive rather than growth stocks.
2. considered stable and relatively safe for investment, esp. during a decline in the economy.
5. excessively concerned with guarding against the real or imagined threat of criticism, injury to one's ego, or exposure of one's shortcomings.

1. a position or attitude of defense: to be on the defensive about one's mistakes.
2. something that serves to defend.