Dictionary

defenseless en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /dɪˈfɛnsləs/ (UK)
• (US) audio

Etymology

Etymology tree English defense Proto-Indo-European *lewh₁- Proto-Indo-European *lewHs-der. Proto-Germanic *leusaną Proto-Germanic *lausaz Proto-Germanic *-lausaz Proto-West Germanic *-laus Old English -lēas Middle English -les English -less English defenseless From defense + -less.

Meanings

1. Lacking any form of defense; vulnerable; open to attack.
   • On the port tack layline , you're defenseless against starboard tackers — you have to dip them , no matter how much you may lose doing it — and the wind shadow of boats spinnakering away from the mark can cost you plenty. 1995, Tom Linskey, Race Winning Strategies:
   • Her look, her attitude, her words were eloquent of the age-old appeal of defenseless woman to her natural protector—man. 1913, Edgar Rice Burroughs, The Return of Tarzan, New York: Ballantine Books, published 1963, page 44:

Forms

Deriveds

defenselessness · defenselessly

Synonyms

naked

Translations (32)

sv försvarslös (lacking any form of defense; vulnerable; open to attack) · pl bezradny (lacking any form of defense; vulnerable; open to attack) · ka დაუცველი (lacking any form of defense; vulnerable; open to attack) · es indefenso (lacking any form of defense; vulnerable; open to attack) · ru беззащи́тный (lacking any form of defense; vulnerable; open to attack) · mi wawaukore (lacking any form of defense; vulnerable; open to attack) · nl weerloos (lacking any form of defense; vulnerable; open to attack) · pl bezsilny (lacking any form of defense; vulnerable; open to attack) · vi không được bảo vệ (lacking any form of defense; vulnerable; open to attack) · de schutzlos (lacking any form of defense; vulnerable; open to attack) · hi अरक्षित (lacking any form of defense; vulnerable; open to attack) · tr korumasız (lacking any form of defense; vulnerable; open to attack) · uk беззахи́сний (lacking any form of defense; vulnerable; open to attack) · pl bezbronny (lacking any form of defense; vulnerable; open to attack) · ca indefens (lacking any form of defense; vulnerable; open to attack) · vi không được phòng thủ (lacking any form of defense; vulnerable; open to attack) · ka მოწყვლადი (lacking any form of defense; vulnerable; open to attack) · pt indefenso (lacking any form of defense; vulnerable; open to attack) · pt indefeso (lacking any form of defense; vulnerable; open to attack) · mi parekore (lacking any form of defense; vulnerable; open to attack) · bg беззащи́тен (lacking any form of defense; vulnerable; open to attack) · fr sans défense (lacking any form of defense; vulnerable; open to attack) · ar أَعْزَل (lacking any form of defense; vulnerable; open to attack) · hu védtelen (lacking any form of defense; vulnerable; open to attack) · gl indefenso (lacking any form of defense; vulnerable; open to attack) · fi puolustuskyvytön (lacking any form of defense; vulnerable; open to attack) · de wehrlos (lacking any form of defense; vulnerable; open to attack) · cs bezbranný (lacking any form of defense; vulnerable; open to attack) · tr savunmasız (lacking any form of defense; vulnerable; open to attack) · es desamparado (lacking any form of defense; vulnerable; open to attack) · uk безза́хисний (lacking any form of defense; vulnerable; open to attack) · be безабаро́нны (lacking any form of defense; vulnerable; open to attack)