Defensible

adj.capable, thoughtfulprofessional

What it means

Able to be supported by sound reasons, evidence, or fair principles.

Reach for it when praising a position or decision that can withstand serious scrutiny

The committee chose a defensible estimate and published the uncertainty around it.

everyday
reasonable
when a balanced person could accept the judgment
not when Reasonable is broad and may praise moderation rather than resistance to a specific challenge.
professional
credible
when a claim is believable because the evidence and source inspire trust
not when Credible concerns belief and does not necessarily make the underlying action fair or justified.
professional
sound
when reasoning or judgment is solid and reliable
not when Sound gives broad approval but does not evoke a challenge that must be answered.
professional
supportable
when available evidence can sustain a claim
not when Supportable is awkward for moral conduct and can sound like a minimum evidentiary threshold.
formal
justifiable
when ethical or practical reasons make an action acceptable
not when Justifiable can permit a choice without suggesting the evidence is strong enough to persuade critics.
formal
tenable
when an argument can survive criticism without contradiction
not when Tenable sounds academic and does not naturally praise a compassionate practical choice.

defensible position
The board reached a defensible position after publishing the competing cost estimates.
defensible decision
A defensible decision explains both the evidence used and the tradeoffs accepted.
legally defensible
The revised process is legally defensible and easier for applicants to understand.

The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.