1. (a.) Serving to defend or protect; proper for defense; opposed to offensive; as, defensive armor.

2. (a.) Carried on by resisting attack or aggression; -- opposed to offensive; as, defensive war.

3. (a.) In a state or posture of defense.

4. (n.) That which defends; a safeguard.

covering custodial defending fostering guardian guarding immunizing parental preventive prophylactic protecting protective safeguarding screening self-defensive self-preservative self-protective sheltering shielding tutelary vigilant watchful