Definitions for defeatism
dɪˈfi tɪz əmde·featism

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. defeatismnoun

   acceptance of the inevitability of defeat

WiktionaryRate this definition:2.0 / 1 vote

1. defeatismnoun

   Acceptance of defeat without struggle.

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

2. Etymology: Coined in France during World War I regarding certain opponents.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Defeatism

   Defeatism is the acceptance of defeat without struggle, often with negative connotations. It can be linked to pessimism in psychology, and may sometimes be used synonymously with fatalism or determinism.

WikidataRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Defeatism

   Defeatism is acceptance of defeat without struggle. In everyday use, defeatism often has negative connotation and can be linked to pessimism in psychology. However, it may also be used in a neutral or positive sense. For instance, if something inevitable and bad is occurring in the future, it may be less emotionally damaging to maintain a defeatist attitude and focus on other things rather than to worry and become anxious. The term is commonly used in the politics and especially in the context of war to denote treason: a soldier can be a defeatist if he or she refuses to fight because he or she thinks that the fight will be lost for sure or that it is not worth fighting for some other reason. Again in connection with war, the term is used to refer to the view that defeat would be better than victory. The term can also be used in other fields, like politics, sport, psychology and philosophy.

Matched Categories

1. • Resignation

How to pronounce defeatism?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say defeatism in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of defeatism in Chaldean Numerology is: 8

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of defeatism in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1

Examples of defeatism in a Sentence

1. Elliot Timms:

   The veteran, who served two tours in Afghanistan, has been running 15 miles almost every single day, regardless of the weather. Though he usually makes his daily runs in Kansas City, he has also carried out his patriotic runs in Washington, D.C. three times. Timms said he hopes his display of patriotism will overshadow the negativity from other American citizens. I'm countering voices of negativity and defeatism in our country with a more uplifting, proud, and powerful gesture of patriotism, because those negative voices don't speak for all of America, he said. He added: When people see me running across the landscape with the American flag, perhaps it will cause them to pause for a moment and consider the meaning, value and importance of that flag and our country represents.

2. Boris Johnson:

   The way to get our friends and partners to understand how serious we are is finally, I'm afraid, to abandon the defeatism and negativity that has enfolded us in a great cloud for so long and to prepare confidently and seriously for a WTO or no-deal outcome.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=defeatism
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Defeatism
3. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defeatism
4. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=defeatism