Definition of "defeatism" [defeatism]

• Acceptance of or resignation to the prospect of defeat. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Mr. Armstrong is particularly illuminating on decadence, which he defines as "defeatism before the consequences of defeat have been felt.""
• "At any rate, America will not be forced to do much any time soon no matter how much comfort it would give some on the Left to think their defeatism is actually realism."
• "McCain was in New Hampshire to deliver a tough speech on Iraq, criticizing what he called defeatism, asking voters to give the surge a chance, asking them to give him one, too."