defensible

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

Synonyms of defensible

• defendable
• defended
• protected
• secured

Examples of defensible in a Sentence

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

Another takeaway based on the first point is that defensible space has to be, in many cases, mandated more and more in communities where the separation between brush around homes has to be widened up to 30 or 40 feet, which is a challenge. —Dana Taylor, USA Today, 17 Apr. 2026

For a financial services company, using generic AI coupled with fragmented data cannot get you a defensible answer on how to assess those risks. —Rob Fauber, Fortune, 16 Apr. 2026

Trading Lawrence is defensible for Harbaugh here, too, though. —Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 16 Apr. 2026

Homeowners throughout the city can remove trees planted within 5 feet of their home to create defensible space between the building and vegetation. —Nollyanne Delacruz, Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for defensible

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