What does indefensibility mean?
Indefensibility refers to the state of being unable to defend oneself or something against criticism, attack, or accusation. This can be due to a lack of evidence, a lack of a valid defense, or a situation where the person or thing being criticized is inherently vulnerable. Indefensibility is often used in formal or technical contexts, but it can also be used in more general contexts to describe a situation where someone or something is vulnerable to criticism or attack. The word is often contrasted with defensibility, which refers to the ability to defend oneself or something against criticism or attack. Indefensibility can have negative connotations, implying that someone or something is guilty or responsible for a particular situation. However, it can also be used in a more neutral or objective sense to describe a situation where someone or something is simply unable to defend themselves. Overall, indefensibility is a useful word for describing situations where someone or something is vulnerable to criticism or attack.
nounThe state of being unable to defend oneself or something against criticism, attack, or accusation.
- The state of being unable to defend oneself or something against criticism, attack, or accusation.
"The politician's indefensibility on the issue led to widespread criticism."
"The politician's indefensibility on the issue led to widespread criticism."
"The company's indefensibility in the face of environmental concerns led to a public backlash."
The plural form indefensibilities is used to describe multiple situations where someone or something is unable to defend themselves against criticism or attack.
"The company's indefensibilities in the face of environmental concerns led to a public backlash."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of indefensibility
The word indefensibility comes from the Latin words 'in-' meaning 'not' and 'defendere' meaning 'to defend'. It is related to the word indefensible, which means unable to be defended. The word has been used in English since the 17th century to describe a situation where someone or something is unable to defend themselves against criticism or attack.
How indefensibility is actually used
Indefensibility is often used in formal or technical contexts to describe a situation where someone or something is unable to defend themselves against criticism or attack. It can also be used in more general contexts to describe a situation where someone or something is vulnerable to criticism or attack.