Defensibility: meaning, definitions and examples

Defensibility is typically used in contexts where one needs to discuss how well a position, argument, or belief can be defended against criticism or attack. This term often appears in legal, scientific, or strategic discussions.

• The defensibility of their scientific hypothesis was called into question during the peer review.
• In terms of strategic planning, the defensibility of the proposed location was a critical consideration.

Justifiability is used when evaluating whether an action, decision, or belief can be justified or deemed reasonable. It often appears in ethical debates, law, and reasoning.

• The justifiability of their actions is still a subject of intense debate among the ethics committee members.
• She questioned the justifiability of spending so much money on the new equipment.

Tenability refers to the ability of an argument, theory, or position to be maintained or upheld, often under scrutiny or in light of evidence. It is frequently used in academic, legal, and philosophical discussions.

• The tenability of his theory has been repeatedly challenged by recent findings.
• She questioned the tenability of their position in the legal case.

Credibility is used when discussing the believability or trustworthiness of a person, statement, or source. It's common in journalism, business, and personal reputation contexts.

• The journalist’s credibility was damaged after the publication of the false report.
• To enhance the credibility of the study, peer-reviewed sources were cited extensively.

Similar to the first 'defensibility', this can also refer to how well something can be protected or justified, especially in a discussion about strategy or feasibility.

• The plan's defensibility was questioned during the meeting.
• They examined the defensibility of their new security measures.

Refers to the state of being free from danger or threat, both physical and abstract; commonly used in everyday conversation and professional environments.

• They invested in new security systems for the office.
• National security is a top priority for the government.

General and broad use in various contexts where something or someone needs to be kept safe from harm.

• They wore helmets for protection during the construction.
• Insurance provides financial protection in case of emergencies.

Used when talking about physical structures built to protect an area from attack.

• The ancient fortification still stands strong after centuries.
• They worked on fortification of the city walls before the siege.