A defensive war is one of the causes that justify war by the criteria of the Just War tradition. It means a war where one nation is mainly trying to defend itself from another, as opposed to a war where both sides are trying to invade and conquer each other.
Examples
The Darius' Invasions of the Greco-Persian Wars. Greeks were defending their homeland from the Persians.
defensive war — war fought in response to a military offensive … English contemporary dictionary
Defensive — De*fen sive, a. [Cf. F. d[ e]fensif.] 1. Serving to defend or protect; proper for defense; opposed to offensive; as, defensive armor. [1913 Webster] A moat defensive to a house. Shak. [1913 Webster] 2. Carried on by resisting attack or… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
War Resisters' International — or WRI is an international anti war organization with members and affiliates in over thirty countries. Its headquarters are in London, UK. History Founded in Bilthoven, Netherlands in 1921, WRI adopted a founding declaration that has remained… … Wikipedia
War of the Pacific — This article is about the 19th century war between Bolivia, Chile and Peru. For the Pacific theatre of WW II, see Pacific War. War of the Pacific … Wikipedia
Defensive grenade wz.33 — granat obronny wz. 33 Type Percussion grenade Place of origin Poland Servic … Wikipedia
War on Terrorism — Infobox Military Conflict conflict=War on Terrorism caption=U.S. Soldiers boarding a CH 47 Chinook helicopter in Afghanistan during Operation Anaconda in the Shahi Kot Valley and Arma Mountains southeast of Zormat. date=October 7 2001cite web… … Wikipedia
WAR OF INDEPENDENCE — (Heb. מִלְחֶמֶת הָעַצְמָאוּת Milḥemet ha Aẓma ut, or מִלְחֶמֶת הַקּוֹמְמִיּוֹּת Milḥemet ha Komemiyyut, or מִלְחֶמֶת הַשִּׁחְרוּר Milḥemet ha Shiḥrur (the War of Liberation), war waged by the Jews of Palestine for survival, freedom, and political … Encyclopedia of Judaism
War — War, n. [OE. & AS. werre; akin to OHG. werra scandal, quarrel, sedition, werran to confound, mix, D. warren, G. wirren, verwirren, to embroil, confound, disturb, and perhaps to E. worse; cf. OF. werre war, F. querre, of Teutonic origin. Cf.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
War cry — War War, n. [OE. & AS. werre; akin to OHG. werra scandal, quarrel, sedition, werran to confound, mix, D. warren, G. wirren, verwirren, to embroil, confound, disturb, and perhaps to E. worse; cf. OF. werre war, F. querre, of Teutonic origin. Cf.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
War dance — War War, n. [OE. & AS. werre; akin to OHG. werra scandal, quarrel, sedition, werran to confound, mix, D. warren, G. wirren, verwirren, to embroil, confound, disturb, and perhaps to E. worse; cf. OF. werre war, F. querre, of Teutonic origin. Cf.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
