Skip to content

indefenso

defenceless

adjective een-deh-FEN-soh Rare
Descriptions & Qualities Quality

Origin: From Spanish in- (not) + defenso (defended), from Latin defensus.

Also means

helpless

Usage Note

Indefenso describes someone or something that lacks protection or the means to defend itself, and carries an emotional charge of vulnerability. It is often applied to children, animals, or civilians in conflict. The noun form is indefensión, frequently appearing in legal and psychological contexts (estado de indefensión means a state of helplessness or lack of due process).

Examples

"El animal quedó indefenso tras la tormenta."

Natural Translation

The animal was left defenceless after the storm.

Explore Spanish by topic