<p><strong>Adjective</strong></p><ul><li>serving to defend; protective: defensive armament.</li><li>made or carried on for the purpose of resisting attack: defensive treaty; a defensive attitude.</li><li>of or relating to defense.</li><li>(of stocks, securities, etc.) 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.</li><li>considered stable and relatively safe for investment, especially during a decline in the economy.</li><li>excessively concerned with guarding against the real or imagined threat of criticism, injury to one's ego, or exposure of one's shortcomings.</li></ul><p><strong>Noun</strong></p><ul><li>a position or attitude of defense: to be on the defensive about one's mistakes.</li><li>Obsolete: something that serves to defend.</li></ul>