adjective
Other Word Forms
- defensibility noun
- defensibleness noun
- defensibly adverb
- nondefensibility noun
- nondefensible adjective
- nondefensibleness noun
- nondefensibly adverb
- undefensible adjective
- undefensibleness noun
- undefensibly adverb
Etymology
Origin of defensible
1250–1300; Middle English < Late Latin defēnsibilis, equivalent to Latin defēns ( us ) ( defense ) + -ibilis -ible; replacing Middle English defensable < Old French < Late Latin defēnsābilis, equivalent to defēnsā ( re ) (frequentative of dēfendere to defend ) + -bilis -ble
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.
Commodity memory chips don’t fit this framework, but chip makers that have defensible competitive positions do.
From Barron's
Jenrick said he did not consider it "defensible" that Fattah received British citizenship when his social media showed that he had "extremist views that are completely incompatible with British values".
From BBC
Ironically, the most controversial aspect of his recent livestream appearance could be the most defensible.
From Los Angeles Times
You can then judge for yourself whether such an explanation is defensible.
From MarketWatch
Home hardening and defensible space are just two of many strategies used to protect lives and property.
From Los Angeles Times
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.
