How to pronounce defensible
Say it like dih-FEN-suh-bul. Defensible has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FEN).
- dih
- FEN
- suh
- bul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Defensible pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- dihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- FENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- suhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- bulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of defensible
American and British speakers say defensible in essentially the same way: /dɪˈfɛnsəbəl/ in the US and /dɪˈfɛnsɪbəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: dih-FEN-sih-bul.
What does defensible mean?
- Capable of being defended against armed attack.
- Capable of being justified.
Where does defensible come from?
From Old French defensable, from Latin defensibilem.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
- defendable
Words that rhyme with defensible
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of defensible.
Questions about saying defensible
How do you pronounce defensible?
Say dih-FEN-suh-bul. The American pronunciation is /dɪˈfɛnsəbəl/. In British English it is /dɪˈfɛnsɪbəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in defensible?
Defensible has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FEN). Broken into parts: dih · FEN · suh · bul.
Do Americans and Brits say defensible the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dɪˈfɛnsəbəl/ and the British form is /dɪˈfɛnsɪbəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.