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

Stepping out of the car, she was “completely shocked” by the defilement.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 12, 2024

A bad apple might be icky and distasteful, but befouled meat caused a related, but totally distinct, sensation cluster of contamination, queasiness and defilement.

From New York Times • Dec. 27, 2021

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

Hazzauna's shame was her deepest secret and yet she felt the defilement left her oddly transparent.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 14, 2012

It was simple and, since both Helmholtz and the Savage were dreadfully pained by the shattering and defilement of a favourite poetic crystal, extremely effective.

From "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley