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

• 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

Ukraine had to pull back to more defensible positions. —David Kirichenko, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025

Her department does about 15 to 20 pre-sale inspections per month and conducts annual defensible space inspections. —Bloomberg, Oc Register, 9 Sep. 2025

The assessments, first offered by the city of San Diego in July, inform homeowners about creating defensible space and how to make their homes more resistant against wildfires. —Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Sep. 2025

Taken together, these initiatives suggest Dollar General is carving out a defensible position in small-town America that Walmart or even Amazon can’t easily match. —Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2025

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