adjective
defeatist
dih-FEE-tihst
adjective
1
Showing a readiness to accept failure or defeat without much of a fight.
"His defeatist attitude was dragging the whole team down."
noun
1
Someone who expects or too readily accepts failure.
"Don't be such a defeatist — we still have a chance to win this."
How to Use Defeatist
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishGiving up before really trying, or believing failure is inevitable.
Word Forms
more defeatist comparative, defeatists plural, most defeatist superlative
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Etymology
From "defeat" plus the suffix -ist, modelled on French défaitiste, a term first used to describe those who wanted to give up during wartime.