defensible

[ dih-fen-suh-buhl ]

adjective

1. capable of being defended against assault or injury:

   The troops were bivouacked in a defensible position.

2. that can be defended in argument; justifiable.

   Synonyms: warrantable, allowable, tenable, fit, suitable

defensible

/ dɪˈfɛnsɪbəl /

adjective

1. capable of being defended, as in war, an argument, etc

Derived Forms

• deˌfensiˈbility, noun
• deˈfensibly, adverb

Other Words From

• de·fensi·bili·ty de·fensi·ble·ness noun
• de·fensi·bly adverb
• nonde·fensi·bili·ty noun
• nonde·fensi·ble adjective
• nonde·fensi·ble·ness noun
• nonde·fensi·bly adverb
• unde·fensi·ble adjective
• unde·fensi·ble·ness noun
• unde·fensi·bly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of defensible¹

1250–1300; Middle English < Late Latin defēnsibilis, equivalent to Latin defēns ( us ) ( defense ) + -ibilis -ible; replacing Middle English defensable < Old French < Late Latin defēnsābilis, equivalent to defēnsā ( re ) (frequentative of dēfendere to defend ) + -bilis -ble

Example Sentences

Alexandra Syphard — one of the first researchers to study the effectiveness of home hardening and defensible space in real wildfires in the early 2010s — said it’s somewhere in the middle.

From Los Angeles Times

The Camarillo area has limited resources dedicated to home hardening and defensible space management education and home-specific consultation visits.

From Los Angeles Times

Thomas wrote that the plaintiffs had offered “no defensible argument” that the appropriations clause requires more than a congressional law authorizing “the disbursement of specified funds for identified purposes,” as was the funding for the CFPB.

From Los Angeles Times

But witnessing the rapid exit of so many donors over what she felt were defensible statements has given her a more pessimistic outlook on building sustainable support for progressive causes.

From Slate

Ending legacy admissions may be defensible in the service of equity, but it’s neither necessary nor sufficient to increase lower-income students’ access to higher education.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• logical
• permissible
• plausible
• tenable
• valid