adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of defensible
1250–1300; Middle English < Late Latin defēnsibilis, equivalent to Latin defēns ( us ) ( see defense) + -ibilis -ible; replacing Middle English defensable < Old French < Late Latin defēnsābilis, equivalent to defēnsā ( re ) (frequentative of dēfendere to defend ) + -bilis -ble
Explanation
Something that's defensible is excusable — you can defend it or justify it. Mistaking your friend for her twin sister, as awkward as it may be, is a defensible blunder. In politics, there are often issues to which some people object strongly, while others argue that they're completely defensible positions. You may believe it's defensible to wage war in some circumstances, while your pacifist friend thinks it's never okay to kill for any reason. Defensible comes from an Old French root, defendre, "defend or resist," from the Latin root defendere, "guard or protect."
Vocabulary lists containing defensible
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
If safety standards deserve protection from market pressure to prevent a race to the bottom, the more defensible solution is for governments, not competitors, to establish the safety floor.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026
Other defensible space requirements have been on the books for decades, and dictate how homeowners must manage their yard through the spacing of trees, the removal of dead vegetation and other precautions.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026
He said that Westminster's record on the issue over the last 30 years was "not defensible".
From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026
But Qualcomm’s design has a substantial patent portfolio behind it, which makes it defensible and harder for rivals to copy.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 25, 2026
It was necessary to pare down faith to a set of core beliefs in order to make it defensible.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
