# defective vs defensive

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### defective
*adjective · IPA /dɪˈfɛktɪv/ · frequency rank #13,494*
Having one or more defects.

### defensive
*adjective · IPA /dɪˈfɛn.sɪv/ · frequency rank #3,747*
Intended for defence; protective.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/defective-vs-defensive