defensive play
Guarding against attack
Defensive play is strategy focused on preventing the opponent from scoring or advancing rather than attacking.
In sports, a team may adopt defensive play to protect a lead: They switched to defensive play in the fourth quarter.
In card games like bridge, defensive play refers to the techniques used by the pair not holding the contract.
The term extends to any cautious approach prioritizing protection over aggression.
- interceptSeize en route
- blockSolid mass, or impede
- box outBlock opponent's rebound path
- endplayForced disadvantageous lead
- offside trapTactical defensive maneuver
sweeper · stay at home · tackle · dummy · fortification · guard · hold the line · penalty kill · risk aversion · shot selection · rebound · low block · footwork · strategy · shut down · shield · marking · tactics
- tennis stylesserve and volley, counterpuncher, pusher, grinder
- bridge playsfinesse, ruff, trump, discard, endplay
- basketballbasketball, rebound, dunk, basketball camps, dribble
- Scrabbletiles, board, rack, blank, triple word
- game tacticsstrategy, tactics, positioning, decision making, counterplay
- tacticsmaneuver, counter-attack, gambit, ambush, counterstrike
defensive playattacking play
Aggressive, goal-seeking approach
offense · attack · offensive strategy · blitz · counterattack