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difensivo

defensive

adjective dee-fen-SEE-voh Rare

Origin: Medieval Latin defensivus, from defendere (to defend)

Usage Note

Difensivo is used in both sports (gioco difensivo = defensive play) and psychology (atteggiamento difensivo = defensive attitude). It agrees in gender: difensivo (m), difensiva (f), difensivi (m pl), difensive (f pl). The noun la difensiva means 'the defensive' — essere sulla difensiva (to be on the defensive) is a common idiomatic phrase.

Examples

"La squadra ha adottato un atteggiamento difensivo."

Natural Translation

The team adopted a defensive attitude.

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