English → Latin
“defensive” in Latin
faciōto do (particularly as a specific instance or occasion of doing); to make, construct, fashion, frame, build, erect; to mbellumwararmaarms, weapons of war, weaponry, instruments (implements of warfare); military action, war (arms as instruments of policydēfendōto drive away; to defend, guard or protect, to stand up for, to stick up for
Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864
defensive
By circumlocution: defensive preparations, *quae ad aliquem tuendum, or ad locum tuendum parantur: a defensive alliance, *foedus ad bellum defendendum initum: a defensive and offensive alliance, *foedus ad bella et repellenda et inferenda initum or factum: a defensive war, bellum, quod defendendo geritur: defensive arms, arma, quae sunt ad tegendum (opposed to arma, quae sunt ad nocendum, offensive arms): on the defensive, defendendo: to act on the defensive, ad vim propulsandam se parare.
Quick answer
- What is the Latin word for defensive?
- The usual Latin words for “defensive” are faciō, bellum, arma; also dēfendō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.
Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.