how to pronounce defensive

/dɪˈfɛn.sɪv/

audio example by a male speaker

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the above transcription of defensive is a detailed (narrow) transcription according to the rules of the International Phonetic Association; you can find a description of each symbol by clicking the phoneme buttons in the secction below.

defensive is pronounced in three syllables

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1.

2.

3. example pitch curve for pronunciation of defensive

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video examples of defensive pronunciation

An example use of defensive in a speech by a native speaker of british english:

“… it in the least defensive terms possible …”

meaning of defensive

Defensive means to protect oneself or one's position.

defensive frequency in english - C1 level of CEFR

the word defensive occurs in english on average 12.9 times per one million words; this frequency warrants it to be in the study list for C1 level of language mastery according to CEFR, the Common European Framework of Reference.