defiance

noun

de·​fi·​ance di-ˈfī-ən(t)s 

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

Synonyms

• rebellion
• willfulness
• rebelliousness
• disrespect
• contrariness
• disobedience

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

Their act of defiance against gentrification becomes a bold expression of ingenious creativity. —Beatrice Verhoeven, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2025

While hilarious and adorable, owners with sassy dogs should ensure the behavior does not evolve into defiance or aggression. —Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025

Appreciate when slop could still be a display of defiance instead, and not just the visual language of cultural defeat. —David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 14 Oct. 2025

Other Republicans have been less understanding of Greene’s defiance. —Chad De Guzman, Time, 13 Oct. 2025

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

Rhymes for defiance

• appliance
• compliance
• reliance
• geoscience
• neuroscience
• noncompliance
• pseudoscience
• science

Kids Definition

defiance

noun

de·​fi·​ance di-ˈfī-ən(t)s 

1

: the act or an instance of defying : challenge

2

: a tendency to resist : contempt of opposition