Dictionary

defensible en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /dɪˈfɛn.sɪ.bəl/ (UK, US)
• [dɪˈfen.sɪ.bɫ] (Australia)
• [dɪˈfɛn.sɪ.bɫ] (UK, US)

Etymology

From Old French defensable, from Latin defensibilem. Equivalent to defense + -ible.

Meanings

1. (of an installation, usually) Capable of being defended against armed attack.
   • Not only were those cities fortified, but their architects based their whole system on the strategical possibilities of the site, and closely followed its defensible contours. 1907, Ronald M. Burrows, The Discoveries In Crete, page 11:
2. (of an argument, usually) Capable of being justified.
   • Those who are most familiar with the working of the present society are also usually interested in the preservation of particular features of that society which may not be defensible on general principle. 1949, F. A. Hayek, “The Intellectuals and Socialism”, in University of Chicago Law Review, volume 16, number 3, Chicago: University of Chicago, →DOI, page 430:

Forms

Antonyms

indefensible

Deriveds

undefensible · defensibility · defensibleness · defensibly

Synonyms

defendable (capable of being defended)

Translations (25)

da forsvarlig (capable of being defended) · es sostenible (capable of being justified) · es defendible (capable of being defended) · pl możliwy do obrony (capable of being defended) · pt defensável (capable of being defended) · el υπερασπίσιμος (capable of being defended) · nb forsvarlig (capable of being justified) · da som kan forsvares (capable of being justified) · da som kan forsvares (capable of being defended) · fr défendable (capable of being justified) · pt defensável (capable of being justified) · it sostenibile (capable of being justified) · it difendibile (capable of being defended) · io defensebla (capable of being defended) · it sostenibile (capable of being defended) · pl uzasadniony (capable of being justified) · fi perusteltavissa (capable of being justified) · fi puolustettavissa (capable of being justified) · da forsvarlig (capable of being justified) · bg защитим (capable of being defended) · it difendibile (capable of being justified) · it tenibile (capable of being justified) · it tenibile (capable of being defended) · fi puolustettavissa (capable of being defended) · gv so-choadey (capable of being defended)