defiance

¹ American  

[dih-fahy-uhns] / dɪˈfaɪ əns /

noun

1. a daring or bold resistance to authority or to any opposing force.

2. open disregard; contempt (often followed byof ).

   defiance of danger; His refusal amounted to defiance.

3. a challenge to meet in combat or in a contest.

---

idioms

1. bid defiance to, to offer resistance; defy.

2. in defiance of, in spite of; notwithstanding.

   There was a splendid audience in defiance of the rainstorm.

Defiance ² American  

[dih-fahy-uhns] / dɪˈfaɪ əns /

noun

1. a city in NW Ohio.

---

defiance British  

/ dɪˈfaɪəns /

noun

1. open or bold resistance to or disregard for authority, opposition, or power

2. a challenging attitude or behaviour; challenge

---

defiance More Idioms  

1. see in defiance of.

---

Other Word Forms

• nondefiance noun
• predefiance noun

Etymology

Origin of defiance

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Old French; equivalent to defy + -ance

Example Sentences

Such shows of defiance by Mexican organized crime groups have alarmed U.S. officials.

From The Wall Street Journal

I saw this tension play out not as defiance but as caution.

From The Wall Street Journal

That defiance includes displaying their fragile ceramics in the aboveground House of Culture, along with Ryabov’s own work, which survived a rocket attack last summer that damaged several buildings across the city.

From The Wall Street Journal

Thousands of women responded by removing their headscarves in a collective act of defiance.

From The Wall Street Journal

The song that once gave voice to a struggle for liberty became a cry of defiance and faith.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• confrontation
• contempt
• opposition
• provocation
• rebellion
• spite