defile

verb de·file \ di-ˈfī(-ə)l , dē- \

|Updated on: 16 Jun 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: defile in a Sentence

Definition of defile

defiled; defiling

transitive verb

: to make unclean or impure: such as

a : to corrupt the purity or perfection of : debase

the countryside defiled by billboards

b : to violate the chastity or virginity of : deflower

c : to make physically unclean especially with something unpleasant or contaminating

boots defiled with blood

… I had never allowed anyone to smoke in the truck. Drunk as I was, I knew that I was betraying something by allowing him to defile the truck's interior.
—Patrick Moore

d : to violate the sanctity of : desecrate

defile a sanctuary

went to jail for costuming themselves in the American flag and thus defiling it
—James R. Gaines

e : sully, dishonor

defile his reputation

—

defilement

play \-ˈfī(-ə)l-mənt\ noun

—

defiler

play \-ˈfī-lər\ noun

defile was our Word of the Day on 04/05/2017. Hear the podcast!

Recent Examples of defile from the Web

Ghost nets entangling turtles, plastic bags defiling corals, and straws in the guts of fish existed in a different world.

— jenni marsh, CNN, "Our children's plastic lives seen through lunches," 7 June 2018
Besides homicide, he also was found guilty of rape and of defiling corpses.

— chris buckley, New York Times, "‘Vicious’ Killer of 11 Women Gets Death Penalty in China," 30 Mar. 2018
As Charlier and his co-authors wrote in their paper last week, Hitler had demanded in his will that the Soviet forces about to overrun Berlin not be allowed to defile his corpse.

— avi selk, Washington Post, "Scientists say Hitler died in WWII. Tell that to ‘Adolf Schuttelmayor’ and the Nazi moon base.," 20 May 2018
But the tragedy most deeply impacted the LGBTQ+ community, who felt that one of their beloved safe spaces had been defiled, and who felt further targeted and alienated in their country.

— claudia connors, Seventeen, "I Lost Hope After the Pulse Shooting, But The March for Our Lives Renewed It," 26 Mar. 2018
And, usually, the environment for Indians is being defiled.

— george varga, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Jackson Browne elated to perform benefit concerts for Quiltman, his Native American musician friend," 21 Feb. 2018
This time, team and pitcher defiled one another over a mere $250,000 difference.

— gabe lacques, USA TODAY, "MLB's angry winter continues: Arbitration case will 'fuel the fire' for Blue Jays' Marcus Stroman," 15 Feb. 2018
And many reports of Trump’s decision-making suggest that the strongest consideration in any decision is the chance to defile or destroy something associated with Obama.

— jonathan chait, Daily Intelligencer, "There’s a Pretty Good Chance President Trump Is Being Blackmailed," 16 Feb. 2018
His family, citing their Muslim faith, which doesn’t allow for bodies to be defiled after death, did not allow his brain to be analyzed.

— tod leonard, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Rashaan Salaam's Heisman Trophy going up for auction," 12 Dec. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'defile.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of defile

Middle English, alteration (influenced by filen to defile, from Old English fȳlan) of defoilen to trample, defile, from Anglo-French defoiller, defuler, to trample, from de- + fuller, foller to trample, literally, to full — more at full

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Synonym Discussion of defile

contaminate, taint, pollute, defile mean to make impure or unclean. contaminate implies intrusion of or contact with dirt or foulness from an outside source.

- water contaminated by industrial wastes

taint stresses the loss of purity or cleanliness that follows contamination.

- tainted meat
- a politician's tainted reputation

pollute, sometimes interchangeable with contaminate, distinctively may imply that the process which begins with contamination is complete and that what was pure or clean has been made foul, poisoned, or filthy.