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

see also:

in defiance of

Synonyms of defiance

• 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

There was also a vivid sense of defiance in her capacity to bare so much, to sing about her fear of relapse to a crowd of thousands. — Literary Hub, 13 July 2026

In his view, that defiance forced the GOP to take extreme measures and go it alone. — Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 12 July 2026

If these acts of defiance against a postliterate culture seem futile, the holdouts lose nothing by trying. — Rose Horowitch, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026

Additionally, occasional rule-breaking and defiance are considered a normal part of child and adolescent development. — Elizabeth Dowdell, The Conversation, 6 July 2026

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

Phrases Containing defiance

• in defiance of

Rhymes for defiance

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

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