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

Authorities said Brennan Thomas, 19, and Dominic McCall, 18, have been arrested on multiple charges, including defilement of a dead body and three related conspiracy charges.

From Washington Times

Some 200 years ago, to survive in America, Black people had to escape defilement.

From New York Times

Dead at the hands of the ambassador, he having discovered the defilement of the apartment.

From New York Times

It was an act of defilement to use such a place for partisan political rhetoric intended to provoke division and fear.

From Washington Post

The new law also applies to acts of defilement besides burning, such as publicly ripping a flag up.

From BBC