Standard Lemma guide

defenceless

adj · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /dɪˈfɛnsləs/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Without defence; undefended.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: UK

Examples

  • Paralysed, the old man was defenceless; and the robbers easily stole all of his money.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adjective satellite

Meaning 2

lacking weapons for self-defense

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: defenseless

Antonyms: none provided

3

adjective satellite

Meaning 3

lacking protection or support

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • a defenseless child

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: defenseless

Antonyms: none provided

4

adverb

Meaning 4

without defense

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the child was standing in the middle of the crossfire, defenselessly

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: defenseless, defenselessly, defencelessly

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English defence Proto-Indo-European *lewh1- Proto-Indo-European *lewHs-der. Proto-Germanic *leusaną Proto-Germanic *lausaz Proto-Germanic *-lausaz Proto-West Germanic *-laus Old English -lēas Middle English -les English -less English defenceless From defence + -less.