defile

1
[ dih-fahyl ]
See synonyms for: defiledefileddefilingdefilement on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),de·filed, de·fil·ing.
  1. to make foul, dirty, or unclean; pollute; taint; debase.

  2. to make impure for ceremonial use; desecrate.

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

  2. Archaic. to violate the chastity of.

Origin of defile

1
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English defilen, defelen, alteration of defoilen (by association with filen “to defile” (see file3), from Anglo-French, Old French defouler “to trample on, violate”; compare Old English befȳlan “to befoul”

Other words from defile

  • de·fil·a·ble, adjective
  • de·file·ment, noun
  • de·fil·er, noun
  • de·fil·ing·ly, adverb

Words Nearby defile

Other definitions for defile (2 of 2)

defile2
[ dih-fahyl, dee-fahyl ]

noun
  1. any narrow passage, especially between mountains.

verb (used without object),de·filed, de·fil·ing.
  1. to march in a line or by files.

Origin of defile

2
1675–85; <French défilé, noun use of past participle of défiler to file off; see defilade

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use defile in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for defile (1 of 2)

defile1

/ (dɪˈfaɪl) /


verb(tr)
  1. to make foul or dirty; pollute

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

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

  2. to make unfit for ceremonial use; desecrate

  3. to violate the chastity of

Origin of defile

1
C14: from earlier defoilen (influenced by filen to file ³), from Old French defouler to trample underfoot, abuse, from de- + fouler to tread upon; see full ²

Derived forms of defile

  • defilement, noun
  • defiler, noun

British Dictionary definitions for defile (2 of 2)

defile2

/ (ˈdiːfaɪl, dɪˈfaɪl) /


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

  2. a single file of soldiers, etc

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

Origin of defile

2
C17: from French défilé, from défiler to file off, from filer to march in a column, from Old French: to spin, from fil thread, from Latin fīlum

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012