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

Asymmetric beliefs fuel exponential improvements, and these breakthroughs create defensible competitive moats. —Esade Business & Law School, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025

These include defensible space requirements and home hardening measures in new construction, for example using ignition-resistant building materials, covering vents that could allow embers to enter the home and installing multi-paned or fire-resistant windows. —Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 25 Mar. 2025

If there’s a sense (and perhaps a fair one) that this film was doomed from the start, why not work to make something creatively defensible? —Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 21 Mar. 2025

There’s a sense that companies are obeying in advance, even when DEI efforts are legally defensible. —Aparna Rae, Forbes, 12 Mar. 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

Rhymes for defensible

• sensible
• compensable
• condensable
• dispensable
• extensible
• insensible
• ostensible
• comprehensible
• indefensible
• indispensable
• reprehensible
• supersensible