defensive design

noun

The practice of planning for contingencies in the design stage of a project so as to make the misuse of the software impossible, or to minimise the negative consequences.

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Meanings

noundefensive design (usually uncountable, plural defensive designs)

plural defensive designs

  1. uncountableusuallycomputingThe practice of planning for contingencies in the design stage of a project so as to make the misuse of the software impossible, or to minimise the negative consequences.
Cite this entry
APA

defensive design. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/defensive%20design

MLA

“defensive design.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/defensive%20design. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “defensive design,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/defensive%20design.

Source: defensive design on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.