defensible

C1 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /dɪˈfen.sə.bəl/ UK /dɪˈfen.sə.bəl/ See IPA manual

Freq #60658

Meanings

1

adj
capable of being justified or supported by sound reasons

Her decision was unpopular but defensible on both legal and ethical grounds.
2

adj
capable of being protected successfully against attack

The fort occupied a defensible ridge above the valley.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · capable of being justified... justifiable tenable sustainable

2 adj · capable of being protected... defendablefortifiablesecure

Opposites

indefensible untenable unjustifiable vulnerable

Word family

Derived forms defensibilitydefensibly

Related forms defend defense justification argument

Etymology

From Middle English defensable, through Old French from Late Latin defensibilis ("capable of being defended"), based on Latin defendere. The spelling was reshaped with -ible under Latin influence; the figurative sense extends physical defense to reasons and claims.

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# defensible

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /dɪˈfen.sə.bəl/
**IPA (UK):** /dɪˈfen.sə.bəl/
**Frequency rank:** 60658

## Meanings
1. capable of being justified or supported by sound reasons
2. capable of being protected successfully against attack

## Examples
- Her decision was unpopular but defensible on both legal and ethical grounds.
- The fort occupied a defensible ridge above the valley.

## Synonyms
- justifiable
- tenable
- sustainable
- defendable
- secure

## Antonyms
- indefensible
- untenable
- unjustifiable
- vulnerable

## Derived Forms
- defensibility
- defensibly

## Related Forms
- defend
- defense
- justification
- argument

## Etymology
From Middle English defensable, through Old French from Late Latin defensibilis ("capable of being defended"), based on Latin defendere. The spelling was reshaped with -ible under Latin influence; the figurative sense extends physical defense to reasons and claims.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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