defeatism means acceptance of defeat without struggle. Lexicurio rates it Rare gem — a strength score of 83 out of 100.
defeatism is pronounced /dɪˈfiːtɪzəm/.
Why “defeatism” is a great word
The passive acceptance of, or resignation to, defeat without meaningful struggle. From defeat + -ism, modeled on French défaitisme, itself coined in 1915 by Russian writer Grigorij Aleksinskij as a translation of Russian пораже́нчество (poražénčestvo), from порази́ть (porazítʹ, 'to strike, defeat'). Unlike pessimism, a general expectation of bad outcomes, or realism, an objective assessment of facts, defeatism is the surrender of agency, a demoralizing conviction that a particular failure is fated and resistance is futile. It is the unopened textbook on the eve of the exam, the hands laid flat on the table before the game is dealt, the vote not cast because 'it wouldn't matter anyway'—a quiet euthanasia of the will.
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”).
noun
- 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.”
Down the rabbit hole
Every word is a door. Follow one.