defund

[dee-fuhnd]

verb (used with object)

1. to withdraw financial support from, especially as an instrument of legislative control.

   Many university programs were defunded by the recent government cutbacks.

2. to deplete the financial resources of.

   The cost of the lawsuit defunded the company's operating budget.

Word History and Origins

Origin of defund¹

de- + fund

Example Sentences

Ms. Spanberger told her Democratic congressional colleagues on a 2020 conference call never to “use the word ‘socialist’ or ‘socialism’ ever again” and to refrain from endorsing demands to “defund” the police.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“Tell me, how does defunding California’s efforts to protect against terrorism make our communities safer?”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Instead of defunding the police, he’s hiring more officers and cracking down on shoplifting and drug crimes.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The systems that support and guarantee our health are being defunded or otherwise undermined.

Read more on Salon

A recent setback occurred earlier this month when the San Bernardino County Transit Authority voted to defund the Montclair portion of the project along the existing Metrolink corridor and pull more than $37 million.

Read more on Los Angeles Times