defensible

[dih-fen-suh-buhl]

adjective

1. capable of being defended against assault or injury.

   The troops were bivouacked in a defensible position.

2. that can be defended in argument; justifiable.

   Synonyms: warrantable, allowable, tenable, fit, suitable

defensible

/ dɪˈfɛnsɪbəl /

adjective

1. capable of being defended, as in war, an argument, etc

Other Word Forms

• defensibility noun
• defensibleness noun
• defensibly adverb
• nondefensibility noun
• nondefensible adjective
• nondefensibleness noun
• nondefensibly adverb
• undefensible adjective
• undefensibleness noun
• undefensibly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of defensible¹

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

“What are the plans for helping people through this season and the next season while we’re waiting to have widespread defensible space implementation?”

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Somehow Mr. Carlson equates this defensible contention with the idea that “you should be killed by virtue of who your parents are.”

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"The credit part of it also has to work right. You have to have reliable and transparent and scientifically defensible crediting systems."

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Here’s how I translate that into action: If you believe the long-term story and your allocation is well below your ceiling, dollar-cost averaging in this range is defensible.

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“However, the Board understands that Zone 0 will be enforced like other defensible space inspections.”

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Related Words

• logical 
• permissible 
• plausible 
• tenable 
• valid