defensible

1 of 2

adjective

de·​fen·​si·​ble di-ˈfen(t)-sə-bəl 

: capable of being defended

defensible theories

a defensible hill

defensibility

di-ˌfen(t)-sə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

ˌdē-

noun

defensibly

di-ˈfen(t)-sə-blē 

adverb

defensibility

2 of 2

noun

de·​fen·​si·​bil·​i·​ty də̇ˌfen(t)səˈbilətē 

(ˌ)dēˌ-, 

-ətē, 

-i

plural -es

: the quality or state of being defensible

Synonyms of defensible

Adjective

• defendable
• defended
• protected
• secured

Examples of defensible in a Sentence

Adjective

Both candidates hold defensible positions on the issue.

Under those circumstances, her actions were completely defensible.

Slavery is not morally defensible.

The city has a defensible location.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Traceable references make each claim defensible when sharing work with clients or supervisors. — New Atlas, 24 Sep. 2026

This is where companies build defensible value even as the foundation becomes more shared. — John Healy, Forbes.com, 24 Sep. 2026

The agency encourages property owners to remove certain trees around homes for defensible-space purposes and works to thin forests throughout the Tahoe Basin to reduce wildfire risk. — Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026

The public deserves to know which of his points were defensible and which were deceiving. — Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English defensable, defensible "ready to fight, easily defended," borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Late Latin dēfensābilis "able to be defended," from Latin dēfensāre "to act in defense" (frequentative of dēfendere "to defend") + -bilis "capable (of acting) or worthy of (being acted upon)" — more at -able

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for defensible

• sensible
• compensable
• condensable
• dispensable
• extensible
• insensible
• ostensible
• comprehensible
• indefensible
• indispensable
• reprehensible
• supersensible