Preposition: on

• ground: This method of organizing is perfectly defensible on democratic grounds.

Modifies a noun

• boundary: Further, Crystal Palace Parade is a natural and defensible boundary for Metropolitan Open Land, which should be retained.

• space: The move back to terraced houses with small gardens restores defensible space.

• position: The hall isn't in a very defensible position.

• decision: Remember defensible decisions are those where: All reasonable steps have been taken.

• reason: Actuaries would be expected to follow a recommended practice unless there were sound and defensible reasons for not doing so.

• site: River valleys have always provided natural transport routes and attract settlements, often on more defensible sites on higher ground nearby.

Used with adjective complement

• become: Our space suddenly became defensible, criminals flourished as opportunities became more lucrative and the laws changed in favor of civil liberties.

Modifying Another Word

• ethically: For example what is the ethically defensible social role of the University in such a scenario?

• morally: In 1787, the topic for this essay contest was the question of whether the slave trade was morally defensible.

• legally: A legally defensible system therefore needs to be created which delivers high quality people from all of the diverse communities within the UK.

• entirely: This, it seems to me, is entirely defensible.

• easily: The road forms a distinct and easily defensible edge to the village.

• not: The requirement of a specific " shocking " event results in the drawing of fine distinctions which are simply not defensible.

Preposition: in

• term: For example, some policies may be defensible in terms of reducing anxiety rather than reducing risk.

• light: Successful medium- and long-range missile tests by Pakistan and Iran last month were defensible in light of US actions.

Preposition: under

• law: Not defensible under community law The commission averred the French position was not defensible under community law.