ENGLISH
REFERENCE

defenseless

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //dɪˈfɛnsɫəs// de·fense·less

adj. having no way to protect yourself from harm or attack. You use this to describe someone or something that is weak and has no help.

adj. lacking protection or the means of self-defence; vulnerable to attack or injury. Often used to describe physical vulnerability or a lack of legal and social safeguards.


SIMPLE

The small village was defenseless against the storm.

CONTEXTUAL

Without a lawyer to represent her interests, the defendant felt completely defenseless in the courtroom.

COMPLEX

The treaty left the border regions effectively defenseless, as the removal of military outposts created a power vacuum that local militias were quick to exploit.

Synonyms
Usage

Commonly used both attributively before a noun and predicatively after linking verbs like 'feel' or 'remain'.

Pitfall

the defenselessness peoplethe defenseless peopleLearners sometimes confuse the noun 'defenselessness' with the adjective 'defenseless' when modifying a noun.

© 2026 English Reference