Definition
In a way that protects or guards against attack; or in a manner showing one is uncomfortable or trying to protect oneself emotionally.
Etymology
From defensive (Latin defendere + -ive suffix) + -ly. The psychological meaning developed in the 20th century, extending the physical defense concept to emotional and social protection.
Kelly Says
When someone responds defensively, they're acting like their ego is under attack—and psychologists realized the same neural circuits light up whether it's a physical threat or a social one. Your brain doesn't always know the difference.
Translations
AMአማርኛ
መከላከያ
me-ke-la-ka-ya
ARالعربية
بِدفاع
bi-difāʿ
BNবাংলা
রক্ষাশীল
rok-sha-sheel
CACatalà
defensivament
deh-fen-siv-ah-men-t
CSČeština
obranně
ob-ran-neh
DADansk
forsvarsmæssigt
for-svar-smaes-sigt
DEDeutsch
verteidigend
fer-taɪ-di-ɡɛnd
ELΕλληνικά
αμυντικά
am-n-ti-ka
ESEspañol
defensivamente
deh-fen-siv-ah-men-teh
FISuomi
puolustavasti
puol-us-ta-vas-ti
FRFrançais
défensivement
de-fen-siv-man
GUGU
રક્ષણાત્મક
rak-shan-aat-mak
HIहिन्दी
रक्षात्मक रूप से
rakṣā-tmka rūpa se
HUMagyar
védekező
veh-deh-kee-hoo
IDBahasa Indonesia
defensif
deh-fen-sif
ITItaliano
difensivamente
deh-fen-see-vah-men-teh
KO한국어
방어적으로
bang-eo-jeok-euro
MSBahasa Melayu
defensif
deh-fen-sif
MYမြန်မာ
ကာကွယ်
ka-ka-kweh
NLNederlands
verdedigend
ver-dee-di-gənd
NONorsk
forsvarsmæssig
for-svar-smaes-sig
PLPolski
obronnie
ob-ron-njee
PTPortuguês
defensivamente
deh-fen-siv-ah-men-teh
RORomână
defensiv
deh-fen-siv
RUРусский
оборонительски
ab-bor-ni-tel-ski
SVSvenska
försvarsmässigt
furs-var-mas-sigt
TAதமிழ்
பாதுகாப்பாக
pa-thu-ka-ppa-a-ga
TEతెలుగు
రక్షణాత్మకంగా
raksha-natmaka-nga
TLTL
depensybo
deh-pen-see-bo
TRTürkçe
savunmacı
sav-un-ma-chi
UKУкраїнська
оборонно
oh-bor-no
VITiếng Việt
phòng thủ
phòng-thủ