English-German translations for defensive

• defensiv
  Der Bericht ist in seinem Tenor sehr defensiv. The report is very defensive in tone.
  Ich möchte nicht defensiv klingen. I do not want to sound defensive.
  Ich halte die bisherige Politik für zu defensiv. I think that the policy so far has been unduly defensive.
• Defensive die
  Europa, die Europäische Union, sollte daher nicht immer in die Defensive gedrängt werden. So Europe, the European Union, should not always be put on the defensive.
  Wir müssen jedoch eine positive Einstellung haben, keine defensive, wie es mit Japan der Fall war. However, we must be positive in our attitude, not defensive like we were with Japan.
  Putin musste wegen eines einheitlich auftretenden Europa in die Defensive gehen. Putin was put on the defensive because of a united Europe.
• Verteidigung die
  Außer man vertritt die Ansicht, daß diese Raketen nicht der Verteidigung dienen. Unless those missiles are not considered defensive.
  Bisweilen sind wir besser in der Verteidigung als im Angriff. We often do better on the defensive than on the offensive.
  Wie ein Kollege hier festgestellt hat, legt Finnland Minen nur zum Zwecke der Verteidigung gegen die Aggression aus. As a colleague here has pointed out, Finland only places mines for defensive purposes, against aggression.

Definition of defensive

• Intended for defence; protective
• Intended to deter attack
• Performed so as to minimise risk
• Displaying an inordinate sensitivity to criticism or intrusion
• Pertaining to defense, as opposed to attack
• In a state or posture of defense
• A means, attitude or position of defense

Examples

• a defensive perimeter
• a defensive missile system
• defensive driving
• The victim held up his hand to repel the attacker and received a defensive knife wound.

Related words

• defensively
• defensiveness
• defensive fighting position
• defensive tackle
• defensive zone
• defensive midfielder
• defensive back
• defensive programming
• defensive end