- the act of defying; open, bold resistance to authority or opposition
- a challenge
Origin of defiance
Middle English defiaunce from Old French defiance from defier, defydefiance Idioms
in defiance of
- defying
- in spite of
noun
Defiance is defined as the act of standing up to an opponent or authority.
An example of defiance is a group of nurses walking out on the job and picketing against the hospital.
YourDictionary definition and usage example. Copyright © 2018 by LoveToKnow Corp
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"defiance." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 12 February 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Defiance>.
APA Style
defiance. (n.d.). Retrieved February 12th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Defiance
defiance
Webster's New World College Dictionary, Fifth Edition Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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MLA Style
"defiance." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 12 February 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Defiance>.
APA Style
defiance. (n.d.). Retrieved February 12th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Defiance
defiance
noun
- Bold resistance against an opposing force or authority: engaged in acts of defiance against the regime.
- Contemptuous disrespect for the authority of another: detected a tone of defiance in the letter.
- Archaic A challenge, as to combat or a duel: “Violent was Mr. Weller's indignation as he was borne along; numerous were the allusions to the personal appearance and demeanour of Mr. Grummer and his companion; and valorous were the defiances to any six of the gentlemen present, in which he vented his dissatisfaction” ( Charles Dickens )
Origin of defiance
Middle English defiaunce from Old French desfiance from desfier to defy ; see defy.THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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MLA Style
"defiance." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 12 February 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Defiance>.
APA Style
defiance. (n.d.). Retrieved February 12th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Defiance
English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.
Link to this page
Cite this page
MLA Style
"defiance." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 12 February 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Defiance>.
APA Style
defiance. (n.d.). Retrieved February 12th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Defiance
Sentence Examples
- Despite her defiance, her voice shook.
- There was challenge and defiance in her gaze.
- Aggravated by her second display of defiance in one night, he crossed to her and planted his hands on either side of her chair, demanding her attention.
- The leading British ship, the "Defiance" (74), carrying the flag of Rear-Admiral Graves, anchored just south of the Trekroner.
- The blatant defiance was so sweetly uttered, he didn't know how to respond.
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