defilement

American  

[dih-fahyl-muhnt] / dɪˈfaɪl mənt /

noun

1. the act of making something foul, dirty, or unclean.

   Humankind's destruction and defilement of the natural environment is seriously endangering the continuation of life on this planet.

2. the violation of something considered sacred, or the act of making something ceremonially impure; desecration.

   I want to express our profound disgust and contempt for the recent defilement of the mosque by graffiti.

3. the act of violating a person’s chastity.

   The Lagos state government has approved the use of a toll-free emergency line to report cases of rape, defilement, child abuse, and other sexual assaults.

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Other Word Forms

• nondefilement noun

Etymology

Origin of defilement

defile ¹ ( def. ) + -ment ( def. )

Example Sentences

It was and is a project of displacement and defilement meant to reverse progress and shame the proponents of that progress.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 5, 2024

Without fanfare or warning, P&D no longer looks like a bizarre defilement, breach or disruption of anything at all.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 4, 2019

Whether recalling a family reunion when the misfortune of another relative comes to light or the tragedy that befell the Tills, Wideman is unsettled by the continuing defilement of black life.

From Washington Post • Dec. 1, 2016

Ms. Farber has woven these women’s stories into patterns of recurring, reflective images: of dirt and water, defilement and cleansing, darkness and light, burial and resurrection.

From New York Times • Apr. 27, 2015

It reminded me that even the dead possessed HaShem’s sanctity and divine beauty and that no manner of defilement could take that away.

From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros