defeatism

American  

[dih-fee-tiz-uhm] / dɪˈfi tɪz əm /

noun

1. the attitude, policy, or conduct of a person who admits, expects, or no longer resists defeat, as because of a conviction that further struggle or effort is futile; pessimistic resignation.

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defeatism British  

/ dɪˈfiːtɪzəm /

noun

1. a ready acceptance or expectation of defeat

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• defeatist
  noun

Etymology

Origin of defeatism

1915–20; defeat + -ism, modeled on French défaitisme

Example Sentences

But the smallness and lockstep defeatism of so much commentary on the war also stems from the normal human tendency to interpret today’s big thing as another version of yesterday’s.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

It may be tempting to slide into defeatism.

From Slate • Jan. 23, 2026

And he slammed cadres who for "too long been accustomed to defeatism, irresponsibility and passiveness".

From Barron's • Jan. 20, 2026

“I think there’s a lot of negative polarization at play — an expression of defeatism or disenfranchisement at the fact that status quo politicians aren’t addressing young men’s problems.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 3, 2025

Once you understand that context matters, however, that specific and relatively small elements in the environment can serve as Tipping Points, that defeatism is turned upside down.

From "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell

Related Words

• capitulation
• resignation