defy

de·fy

Use defy in a sentence

verb

To defy is defined as to work against or resist something.

An example of to defy is to break a law by going on land that is posted with a no trespassing sign.

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"defy." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 15 March 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/DEFY>.

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defy. (n.d.). Retrieved March 15th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/DEFY

defy

transitive verb

-·fied′, -·fy′ing

to resist or oppose boldly or openly
to resist completely in a baffling way: the puzzle defied solution
to dare (someone) to do or prove something
Archaic to challenge (someone) to fight

Origin of defy

Middle English defien from Old French defier, to distrust, repudiate, defy from Late Latin an unverified form disfidare from dis-, from + an unverified form fidare, to trust from fidus, faithful: see faith

noun

pl. -·fies′

a defiance or challenge

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MLA Style

"defy." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 15 March 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/DEFY>.

APA Style

defy. (n.d.). Retrieved March 15th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/DEFY

defy

transitive verb

de·fied, de·fy·ing, de·fies

a. To oppose or resist with boldness and assurance: defied the blockade by sailing straight through it.
b. To refuse to submit to or cooperate with: defied the court order by leaving the country.
To be beyond the application or scope of; be contrary or resistant to: an act that defies explanation; a problem that defies any conventional approach.
To challenge or dare (someone) to do something: She defied her accusers to prove their charges.

Origin of defy

Middle English defien from Old French desfier from Vulgar Latin disfīdāre Latin dis- dis- Latin fīdus faithful ; see bheidh- in Indo-European roots.

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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Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"defy." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 15 March 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/DEFY>.

APA Style

defy. (n.d.). Retrieved March 15th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/DEFY

defy

defy brave challenge dare face

These verbs mean to confront boldly and courageously: an innovator defying tradition; braving all criticism; challenged the opposition to produce proof; daring him to deny the statement; faced her accusers.

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.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"defy." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 15 March 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/DEFY>.

APA Style

defy. (n.d.). Retrieved March 15th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/DEFY

Noun

(plural defies)

(obsolete) A challenge.

Verb

(third-person singular simple present defies, present participle defying, simple past and past participle defied)

To renounce or dissolve all bonds of affiance, faith, or obligation with; to reject, refuse, or renounce.
To challenge (someone) to do something difficult.
to defy an enemy; to defy the power of a magistrate; to defy the arguments of an opponent; to defy public opinion
To refuse to obey.
If you defy your teacher you will get the strap.
To not conform to or follow a pattern or certain set of rules.

Related terms

Origin

From Old French desfier, from Vulgar Latin *disfidare (“renounce one's faith”), from Latin dis- (“away”) + fidus (“faithful”). Meaning shifted 14c. from "be disloyal" to "challenge."

English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.