defeatism

1 of 3

noun (1)

de·​feat·​ism di-ˈfē-ˌti-zəm 

dē-

: an attitude of accepting, expecting, or being resigned to defeat

defeatist

di-ˈfē-tist 

dē-

noun or adjective

defeatist

2 of 3

noun (2)

de·​feat·​ist -fētə̇st 

-ētə̇-

plural -s

: one who believes in, advocates, or is affected with defeatism : one who concedes defeat too readily

defeatist

3 of 3

adjective

"

: characterized by defeatism

there was a defeatist attitude about the proposal

such talk is plainly defeatist

Examples of defeatism in a Sentence

Noun (1)

We must not give in to defeatism. We must be optimistic.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

At its highest points, Carve provides an angry rejoinder to that kind of defeatism. — Colin Joyce, Pitchfork, 21 Apr. 2026

Defeating defeatism is at the heart of Kuma’s philosophy. — Michelle Kuo, The Dial, 14 Apr. 2026

Their take-your-medicine defeatism from just last month morphed into fast action. — Philip Elliott, Time, 29 Jan. 2026

Yet Hiller’s latest equivocating mea culpa, with the now-familiar language of hardship and defeatism so unbecoming of a professional hockey team, rang unconvincing. — Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 13 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

defeat entry 2 + -ism

Noun (2)

French défaitiste, from défaite defeat + -iste -ist

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1917, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for defeatism

• pietism

Kids Definition

defeatism

noun

de·​feat·​ism di-ˈfēt-ˌiz-əm 

: an attitude of expecting defeat or of accepting defeat with the belief that further effort would be useless

defeatist

-ˈfēt-əst 

noun or adjective