defensible

adjective

de·​fen·​si·​ble di-ˈfen(t)-sə-bəl 

: capable of being defended

defensible theories

a defensible hill

defensibility

di-ˌfen(t)-sə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

ˌdē-

noun

defensibly

di-ˈfen(t)-sə-blē 

adverb

Synonyms

• defendable
• tenable

Examples of defensible in a Sentence

Both candidates hold defensible positions on the issue.

Under those circumstances, her actions were completely defensible.

Slavery is not morally defensible.

The city has a defensible location.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Palisades house, which took six years to complete, incorporated defensible space: a border area from which anything flammable—like dead plants and wooden furniture—is removed. —Natalie Donback, TIME, 17 Feb. 2025

But there’s no defensible worldview in which presidents should be chosen by a cockamamie system that gives small states disproportionate weight and throws all votes in almost every state to whoever wins their plurality. —New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 26 Jan. 2025

The house sits on relatively defensible ground, partly because of a concrete backyard basketball court. —James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2025

The guide, prepared by the International Association of Fire Chiefs’ Ready Set Go! program, provides tips and tools for preparing an individualized household plan for wildfires, including information about defensible space, fire-resistant home materials and emergency supplies to keep on hand. —Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English defensable, defensible "ready to fight, easily defended," borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Late Latin dēfensābilis "able to be defended," from Latin dēfensāre "to act in defense" (frequentative of dēfendere "to defend") + -bilis "capable (of acting) or worthy of (being acted upon)" — more at -able

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above