Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Being without defense; without means of repelling assault or injury.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Destitute of defense; unprepared to resist attack; unable to oppose; unprotected.
  • adjective unarmed; used of persons or the military.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Lacking any form of defense; vulnerable; open to attack.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective having no protecting or concealing cover
  • adverb without defense
  • adjective lacking weapons for self-defense
  • adjective lacking protection or support

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

defense +‎ -less

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Examples

  • Two decades ago, of course, the term "defenseless receiver" hadn't been invented.

    Slate Magazine Ta-Nehisi Coates 2011

  • Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff lamented the deaths of what she called "defenseless children" and asked for a minute of silence to honor the youngsters.

    11 Children Killed in Brazil School Shooting 2011

  • Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff lamented the deaths of what she called "defenseless children" and asked for a minute of silence to honor the youngsters.

    11 Children Killed in Brazil School Shooting 2011

  • You don’t really understand what the word defenseless means till you see that.

    Living Justice Jessica Blank 2005

  • You don’t really understand what the word defenseless means till you see that.

    Living Justice Jessica Blank 2005

  • You don’t really understand what the word defenseless means till you see that.

    Living Justice Jessica Blank 2005

  • You don’t really understand what the word defenseless means till you see that.

    Living Justice Jessica Blank 2005

  • Remain defenseless and at the mercy of the criminals, hoping the Police can get there in time if things really go South.

    April 03, 2005 Laban 2005

  • Remain defenseless and at the mercy of the criminals, hoping the Police can get there in time if things really go South.

    New Blogs Laban 2005

  • Remain defenseless and at the mercy of the criminals, hoping the Police can get there in time if things really go South.

    Archive 2005-04-03 Laban 2005

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