defy

B2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /dɪˈfaɪ/ See IPA manual

Freq #9786

Meanings

1

verb
To refuse to obey a person, rule, or law.

The workers defied their boss and went on strike.
2

verb
To not follow what is normal or expected.

The little plant seemed to defy nature by growing in the rock.
3

verb
To boldly challenge or stand up to a person or danger.

They defied the storm and sailed out to sea.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

3 verb · to boldly challenge or... dare

Word family

Forms defieddefiesdefyingdefyingly

Derived forms death-defyingdefiabledefierdefyerredefyundefied

Related forms defiance defiant

Etymology

From Old French desfier, from Vulgar Latin *disfidare (“renounce one's faith”), from Latin dis- (“away”) + fidus (“faithful”). Meaning shifted in the 14th century from "be disloyal" to "challenge". Contrast confide, fidelity, faith.

*bʰeydʰ- Proto-Indo-European desfier Old French *disfidare la-vul dis- Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# defy

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /dɪˈfaɪ/
**Frequency rank:** 9786

## Meanings
1. To refuse to obey a person, rule, or law.
2. To not follow what is normal or expected.
3. To boldly challenge or stand up to a person or danger.

## Examples
- The workers defied their boss and went on strike.
- The little plant seemed to defy nature by growing in the rock.
- They defied the storm and sailed out to sea.

## Derived Forms
- death-defying
- defiable
- defier
- defyer
- redefy
- undefied

## Related Forms
- defiance
- defiant

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *bʰeydʰ-
- Root: desfier
- Root: *disfidare
- Root: dis-

## Etymology
From Old French desfier, from Vulgar Latin *disfidare (“renounce one's faith”), from Latin dis- (“away”) + fidus (“faithful”). Meaning shifted in the 14th century from "be disloyal" to "challenge". Contrast confide, fidelity, faith.

## AI Etymology
defy comes from Old French desfier, from Vulgar Latin *disfidare (“renounce one's faith”), from Latin dis- (“away”) + fidus (“faithful”). Meaning shifted in the 14th century from "be disloyal" to "challenge". Contrast confide, fidelity, faith. The historical chain includes Proto-Indo-European *bʰeydʰ-, Old French desfier, la-vul *disfidare, Latin dis-. Current senses include to refuse to obey a person, rule, or law and to not follow what is normal or expected. English relatives and later formations include death-defying, defiable, defier, defiance, defiant.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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