Meanings
prepositional phrase
- Prepared to defend or protect against criticism, attack or aggression.
Last year, despite winning 34 of the legislature’s 57 seats with 47 per cent of the popular vote, the NDP was on the defensive almost from the start.
1982 December 11, Frances Russell, “Economic performance buoys Pawley’s position”, in The Vancouver Sun (The Weekend Sun), Vancouver, BC, page A6 - hobbiesdefending; playing a defensive game
Brazil's greater quality and assurance in possession meant England spent much of the game on the defensive.
2017 November 14, Phil McNulty, “England 0-0 Brazil”, in BBC News
Synonyms & antonyms
Opposite
on the attack
Cite this entry
APA
on the defensive. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/on%20the%20defensive
MLA
“on the defensive.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/on%20the%20defensive. Accessed November 5, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “on the defensive,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/on%20the%20defensive.
Source: on the defensive on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.