defiance

noun

de·​fi·​ance di-ˈfī-ən(t)s How to pronounce defiance (audio)
dē-
1
: the act or an instance of defying : challenge
jailed for defiance of a court order
2
: disposition to resist : willingness to contend or fight
dealing with a child's defiance
Phrases
in defiance of
: contrary to : despite
seemingly in defiance of the laws of physics
He returned to the pulpit May 22 in defiance of an order by church leaders banning him from television preaching for one year.Daniel E. Kubiske

Examples of defiance in a Sentence

any defiance of the authoritarian regime would have dire consequences the troubled youth seems to have an ingrained defiance to authority of any sort
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
The dissenters—who were ordered to leave Hanover within three days—became known as the Göttingen Seven, and their act of defiance was later enshrined in German history as a banner moment in the nation’s path to democracy. Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024 Their decision to kiss in front of the preachers was not just an act of defiance, but a message to the world. David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024 The mugshot snapped of Trump in August 2023 after a Democratic district attorney brought unprecedented criminal charges against him in Georgia quickly became an iconic image of defiance for his supporters, for example. Sarah Bedford, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 2 Nov. 2024 Christ stands with arms folded, eyes narrowed—a perfect image of sulking adolescent defiance. Christian K. Kleinbub, ARTnews.com, 29 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for defiance 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English diffiaunce, defyaunce, borrowed from Anglo-French defiance, difiaunce, from defier, desfier "to renounce, challenge, defy entry 1" + -ance, -aunce -ance

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of defiance was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near defiance

Cite this Entry

“Defiance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defiance. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

defiance

noun
de·​fi·​ance di-ˈfī-ən(t)s How to pronounce defiance (audio)
1
: the act or an instance of defying : challenge
2
: a tendency to resist : contempt of opposition

More from Merriam-Webster on defiance

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