Noah Webster
Defensive
DEFENSIVE, adjective
1. That serves to defend; proper for defense; as defensive armor, which repels attacks or blows, opposed to offensive arms, which are used in attack.
2. Carried on in resisting attack or aggression; as defensive war, in distinction from offensive war, which is aggressive.
3. In a state or posture to defend.
DEFENSIVE, noun Safeguard; that which defends.
Wars preventive, upon just fears, are true defensives.
To be on the defensive or to stand on the defensive is to be or stand in a state or posture of defense or resistance, in opposition to aggrression or attack.