Definition of DEFEATISM

defeatism

Plural: defeatisms

Noun

  • acceptance of the inevitability of defeat
  • Acceptance of defeat without struggle.

Examples

  • Objective assessment is good, but defeatism will reduce our potentials even when the prospects for victory have never been nearer.

Origin / Etymology

From defeat + -ism, after French défaitisme, coined in 1915 by Russian writer Grigorij Aleksinskij as a translation of Russian пораже́нчество (poražénčestvo), also coined by him as a derivation of порази́ть (porazítʹ, “to strike, defeat”).

Scrabble Score: 15

defeatism: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
defeatism: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
defeatism: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 16

defeatism: valid Words With Friends Word