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defile

1
[ dih-fahyl ]
/ dɪˈfaɪl /
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See synonyms for: defile / defiled / defiling / defilement on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object), de·filed, de·fil·ing.
to make foul, dirty, or unclean; pollute; taint; debase.
to make impure for ceremonial use; desecrate.
to sully, as a person's reputation.
Archaic. to violate the chastity of.
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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, adjectivede·file·ment, nounde·fil·er, nounde·fil·ing·ly, adverb

Other definitions for defile (2 of 2)

defile2
[ dih-fahyl, dee-fahyl ]
/ dɪˈfaɪl, ˈdi faɪl /
noun
any narrow passage, especially between mountains.
verb (used without object), de·filed, de·fil·ing.
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. 2023

Words related to defile

besmirch, debase, degrade, desecrate, discolor, dishonor, sully, vitiate, abuse, adulterate, befoul, contaminate, deflower, dirty, disgrace, hurt, maculate, molest, pollute, profane

How to use defile in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for defile (1 of 2)

defile1
/ (dɪˈfaɪl) /
verb (tr)
to make foul or dirty; pollute
to tarnish or sully the brightness of; taint; corrupt
to damage or sully (someone's good name, reputation, etc)
to make unfit for ceremonial use; desecrate
to violate the chastity of

Derived forms of defile

defilement, noundefiler, noun

Word Origin for defile

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

British Dictionary definitions for defile (2 of 2)

defile2
/ (ˈdiːfaɪl, dɪˈfaɪl) /
noun
a narrow pass or gorge, esp one between two mountains
a single file of soldiers, etc
verb
mainly military to march or cause to march in single file

Word Origin for defile

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
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