defile

¹ American  

[dih-fahyl] / dɪˈfaɪl /

verb (used with object)

defiled, defiling

1. to make foul, dirty, or unclean; pollute; taint; debase.

2. to make impure for ceremonial use; desecrate.

3. to sully, as a person's reputation.

4. Archaic.  to violate the chastity of.

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defile ² American  

[dih-fahyl, dee-fahyl] / dɪˈfaɪl, ˈdi faɪl /

noun

1. any narrow passage, especially between mountains.

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verb (used without object)

defiled, defiling

1. to march in a line or by files.

defile ¹ British  

/ dɪˈfaɪl /

verb

1. to make foul or dirty; pollute

2. to tarnish or sully the brightness of; taint; corrupt

3. to damage or sully (someone's good name, reputation, etc)

4. to make unfit for ceremonial use; desecrate

5. to violate the chastity of

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defile ² British  

/ ˈdiːfaɪl, dɪˈfaɪl /

noun

1. a narrow pass or gorge, esp one between two mountains

2. a single file of soldiers, etc

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verb

1. military to march or cause to march in single file

Other Word Forms

• defilable adjective
• defilement noun
• defiler noun
• defilingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of defile¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English defilen, defelen, alteration of defoilen (by association with filen “to defile” ( file ³ ), from Anglo-French, Old French defouler “to trample on, violate”; compare Old English befȳlan “to befoul”

Origin of defile²

1675–85; < French défilé, noun use of past participle of défiler to file off; defilade

Example Sentences

As mixed as I am on the film itself, I appreciate that the Academy is embracing not just a horror movie, but a gleeful Grand Guignol that defiles the Walk of Fame twice.

From Los Angeles Times

You’d never know the terrible mayhem that was visited on the seat of our national government, or the way our country and democracy were defiled that pitch-black day.

From Los Angeles Times

By extension, "thook-jihad" accuses Muslims of trying to defile Hindus by spitting in their food.

From BBC

For Trump, defiling what is sacred in our civic culture borders on a pastime.

From Salon

Some Parisians backed the move, but others - including heritage campaigners - said it was a bad idea and would "defile" the French capital's iconic monument.

From BBC

Related Words

• besmirch
• debase
• degrade
• desecrate
• discolor
• dishonor
• sully
• vitiate