defy

[dih-fahy, dee-]

verb (used with object)

defied, defying 

1. to challenge the power of; resist boldly or openly.

   Love drives the characters to ignore their family feud and defy parental authority.

   The artist defies conventional categories by blending very different styles in her work.

   Synonyms: scorn, flout, brave, dare

2. to offer effective resistance to; make virtually impossible.

   Their strategic position is helped by having a fort that defies attack.

   The facts were so complex that they defied simple explanation.

3. to challenge (a person) to do something deemed impossible.

   They defied him to dive off the bridge.

4. Archaic.,  to challenge to a combat or contest.

noun

plural

defies 

1. a challenge; a defiance.

defy

/ dɪˈfaɪ /

verb

1. to resist (a powerful person, authority, etc) openly and boldly

2. to elude, esp in a baffling way

   his actions defy explanation

3. formal,  to challenge or provoke (someone to do something judged to be impossible); dare

   I defy you to climb that cliff

4. archaic,  to invite to do battle or combat

Other Word Forms

• defiable adjective
• defyingly adverb
• predefy verb (used with object)
• redefy verb (used with object)
• undefiable adjective
• undefiably adverb
• defier noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of defy¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; from Middle English defien, Old French desfier, from des- dis- ¹ + fier “to trust” (from Vulgar Latin fīdāre (unrecorded), from Latin fīdere; fidelity ( def. ) )

Word History and Origins

Origin of defy¹

C14: from Old French desfier, from des- _de- + fier to trust, from Latin fīdere

Example Sentences

In June, Lira pleaded guilty in Illinois federal court to one count of contempt of court for defying a Chicago judge’s order concerning the distribution of settlement funds.

From Los Angeles Times

But the group, which has led demonstrations against the ban on Palestine Action, defied these calls and went ahead with the protest.

From BBC

For someone who has spent her life defying the odds, perhaps the hardest fight will be learning how to live without being a boxer.

From BBC

Nate says it was an "unconventional choice", but key to the story the developers wanted to tell of an underdog defying society's expectations.

From BBC

He closed his speech by saying Labour represented ambition and a new direction, and that he was confident the party could defy pollsters by returning to power after next year's Scottish election.

From BBC

Related Words

• confront 
• disregard 
• elude 
• flout 
• ignore 
• mock 
• oppose 
• provoke 
• resist 
• ridicule 
• spurn 
• thwart 
• violate 
• withstand