Standard Lemma guide

defenselessness

noun · 2 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

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  • UK: /dɪˈfɛnsləsnəs/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The characteristic of being defenseless; vulnerability.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

the property of being helpless in the face of attack

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: defencelessness, unprotectedness

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: vulnerability

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English defenseless Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English defenselessness From defenseless + -ness.

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: puolustuskyvyttömyys — vulnerability
  • Hungarian: védtelenség — vulnerability
  • Icelandic: varnarleysi — vulnerability
  • Norwegian: forsvarsløshet — vulnerability
  • Polish: bezbronność — vulnerability
  • Polish: bezradność — vulnerability
  • Polish: bezsilność — vulnerability