defensive purpose

collocation in English

meaningsofdefensiveandpurpose

These words are often used together. Click on the links below to explore the meanings. Or,see other collocations withpurpose.
defensive
adjective
uk
/dɪˈfen.sɪv/us
/dɪˈfen.sɪv/
used to protect someone or something ...
See more atdefensive
purpose
noun
uk
/ˈpɜː.pəs/us
/ˈpɝː.pəs/
why you do something or why ...
See more atpurpose

(Definition ofdefensiveandpurposefrom theCambridge English Dictionary© Cambridge University Press)

Examplesofdefensive purpose

These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
Rapid forces, whether for an offensive ordefensivepurpose, were needed to deny vital locations to the enemy.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
While some certainly had adefensivepurpose, the use of others is not clearly understood.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Around it on various levels are rooms, enclosures and towers accessible through a complex set of stairways that may have once had adefensivepurpose.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
It is unlikely that they had a strongdefensivepurpose.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
We must show not only that we are united in ourdefensivepurpose.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Given our overalldefensivepurpose, the attractions of a world in which defences may come to play a greater part in maintaining deterrence are understandable.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
This type of split gate has no doors and provides no realdefensivepurposebut narrowing the passage.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
In fitting with thedefensivepurposeof the settlement, city walls were constructed that surrounded a third of the local castle.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
It is situated where an earlier castle stood and never had adefensivepurpose.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
The church and churchyard are surrounded by a wall which originally reached much higher and had adefensivepurpose.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
The strategicdefensivepurposeof a navy is to frustrate seaborne projection-of-force by enemies.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
The henge, although clearly forming an imposing boundary to the circle, has nodefensivepurposeas the ditch is on the inside.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Over time, the walls lost theirdefensivepurpose, and so did the gates, which were adapted as customs tax stations.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
By the 19th century, the wall had lost itsdefensivepurposeand was dismantled.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
The roof itself has a short parapet which appears to have been more for protection from falling than to have served anydefensivepurpose.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Resin is another plant exudate that may have adefensivepurpose.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Now, the front can be retracted more easily, perhaps suggesting adefensivepurpose.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
Want to learn more?
Go to the definition ofdefensive
Go to the definition ofpurpose
See other collocations withpurpose