What does defensive mean?
Word: Defensive
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Defensive means meant to protect yourself or others from attack. A person who is defensive gets upset quickly when criticised and keeps making excuses.
Synonyms: protective
Antonyms: aggressive, attacking
How do you spell defensive?
Syllables: de - fen - sive
Tricky part: British English spells the noun defence with a c, but the adjective always takes an s: defensive. That switch from c to s is the trap.
Watch out for: defencive, defensiv, defensave
Memory tip: The c of defence turns into an s when ive is added, and offence and offensive make exactly the same switch.
Defensive in a sentence
Example 1: The kabaddi team switched to a defensive line-up after taking the lead.
Example 2: When Anil was asked about the broken window, he became defensive and started blaming his cousin.
Example 3: Our goalkeeper made a defensive dive and pushed the ball round the post.
Fun Fact
Many animals have defensive tricks: a skunk sprays a smelly liquid, and an octopus squirts a cloud of ink so it can escape.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell Spies
Choose the incorrectly spelt word:
a) expensive
b) extensive
c) deffensive
d) offensive
Show answer
c) deffensive. Only one f is needed after the de; offensive is the word with ff.
Jumble Tumble
Choose the correct sequence of the jumbled letters to form a meaningful word:
sevfindee 123456789
a) 742861539
b) 724816539
c) 724861539
d) 724861593
Show answer
c) 724861539. Taken in that order, the nine letters give defensive; the other codes put an e, an f or the v in the wrong place.
Spellacadabra
Choose the option in which the following letters will fit in the given order: e, e, i, e
a) s_ns_t_v_
b) _ff_ns_v_
c) d_f_ns_v_
d) r_sp_ns_v_
Show answer
c) d_f_ns_v_. Defensive takes e, e, i, e; responsive needs an o in its second gap, offensive starts with o and sensitive needs i twice.
Word Puzzle
Match the words with their meanings:
1. defensive 2. reckless 3. punctual a. always on time b. not caring about danger c. used to guard against an attack
a) 1-c, 2-b, 3-a
b) 1-c, 2-a, 3-b
c) 1-b, 2-c, 3-a
d) 1-a, 2-c, 3-b
Show answer
a) 1-c, 2-b, 3-a. A defensive move guards against attack (c), a reckless rider ignores danger (b) and a punctual pupil is never late (a).
Multiple Choice Questions
1. In a football match, a defensive player mostly tries to ___.
a) lead the fans in cheering
b) stop the other team from scoring
c) keep the score for the referee
d) score as many goals as possible
Show answer
b) stop the other team from scoring
2. Which remark sounds defensive?
a) 'Well done, that was a great catch.'
b) 'I will help you carry those bags.'
c) 'Could you pass me the salt, please?'
d) 'It wasn't my fault, the bell rang early.'
Show answer
d) 'It wasn't my fault, the bell rang early.'
