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."
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Passion, humor and a snarl of defiance run through the album like a bullet.
From Salon • Jun. 5, 2026
They tried to stand up for multiracial democracy and the rule of law in the face of the state’s defiance.
From Slate • Jun. 3, 2026
The new government formed by Senegal's President Bassirou Diomaye Faye in defiance of his powerful sacked prime minister can overcome potential efforts by his estranged ally to block its reforms, analysts say.
From Barron's • Jun. 2, 2026
But in a last act of defiance to try and throw the case into jeopardy, John attempted to vacate his guilty pleas, which was rejected by a judge.
From BBC • May 16, 2026
“Maya got this defiance from you. You’ve set a terrible example.”
From "Love, Hate & Other Filters" by Samira Ahmed
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.
