a daring or bold resistance to authority or to any opposing force.
open disregard; contempt (often followed byof ).
defiance of danger; His refusal amounted to defiance.
a challenge to meet in combat or in a contest.
bid defiance to, to offer resistance; defy.
in defiance of, in spite of; notwithstanding.
There was a splendid audience in defiance of the rainstorm.
open or bold resistance to or disregard for authority, opposition, or power
a challenging attitude or behaviour; challenge
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Old French; equivalent to defy + -ance
Stand up when the powers that be order you to sit down, and you've given a fine example of defiance. It happens when someone or a group of someones openly flouts or challenges authority. Refusing to go to bed when your parents tell you to? That's an act of defiance. Defiance comes from French — specifically to the Old French word defier, which means "to defy." (Don't mix it up with deify; that means to make someone or something into a god.) If you've ever studied Latin, you'll spot the fi in fidare, "to trust."
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The album revels in baser instincts too, almost in defiance of the sweetly bashful “Bad Habit.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026
She paid for it "out of defiance" with her own money, not her divorce settlement, says the 58-year-old from Wales.
From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026
That defiance is a feature of the Islamic Republic’s approach to the negotiations with the U.S. as well.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026
Decades after triggering a rift with the Vatican by consecrating bishops in 1988, the Society of Saint Pius X is doing it again on Wednesday in defiance of Pope Leo XIV.
From Barron's ● Jul. 1, 2026
“But Mr. Mason seems a man easily led. Your influence, sir, is evidently potent with him: he will never set you at defiance or wilfully injure you.”
From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë
I also mentioned an exchange-trade fund called Defiance Quantum, which is up 107% since then, versus 27% for the S&P 500.
From Barron's ● May 29, 2026
The Defiance Connective Technologies ETF follows a modified weighting strategy.
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 27, 2026
The following excerpt is adapted from Chapter 3 of Tyler’s memoir, Stitching Freedom: A True Story of Injustice, Defiance, and Hope, published by One Signal Publishers and set for release on Tuesday.
From Slate ● Oct. 6, 2025
Defiance Daily Target 2X Long RGTI, which aims to double the daily return of quantum-computer firm Rigetti Computing, is up roughly 1,000%.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 3, 2025
For the first time since Grandma was admitted to the hospital in Fort Defiance a month ago, he chuckled.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
