defile

1 of 3

verb (1)

de·​file di-ˈfī(-ə)l How to pronounce defile (audio)
dē-
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 itJames R. Gaines
e
: sully, dishonor
defile his reputation
defilement noun
defiler noun

defile

2 of 3

noun

geology
: a narrow passage (as between hills, rocks, or cliffs) : gorge entry 1
… come to us from a narrow defile in the Pennine Alps between Switzerland and Italy, a place called the Great St. Bernard Pass.Michael Olmert

defile

3 of 3

verb (2)

defiled; defiling

intransitive verb

military
: to march off in a line
… breaks out into a brave and glorious description of the forces, as they defiled through the principal gate of the city …Washington Irving

Did you know?

The verb defile (unrelated to this verb defile or its related noun) has a number of uses that are all variations on the idea of making something unclean or impure. These meanings echo the word’s Middle English and Anglo-French ancestry, where defilement is connected to figurative and literal trampling. The ultimate Anglo-French root is fuller, or foller, which means “to trample under foot,” “to oppress”—or literally, “to full.” Full in this case is a technical term: when you full woolen cloth you shrink and thicken it by moistening, heating, and pressing it. Originally, the pressing part was done by trampling it with the feet.

Choose the Right Synonym for 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.

the polluted waters of the river

defile implies befouling of what could or should have been kept clean and pure or held sacred and commonly suggests violation or desecration.

defile a hero's memory with slanderous innuendo

Examples of defile in a Sentence

Verb (1) supplies of meat that had been defiled by maggots art conservators were careful not to do anything that might defile the holy relic Noun the cattle, once they were cornered in the defile, were quickly rounded up
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Whether Donald Trump is defiling the most sacred section of Arlington National Cemetery, committing felonies, attempting to overthrow the government or stealing confidential documents, the message is clear: Rules shouldn’t apply to Trump. Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 5 Sep. 2024 Just a few hours later, a mob of America-haters burned and defiled American flags, replaced American flags with Palestinian ones and attacked policemen who fought to protect our country’s banners. Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 29 July 2024
Noun
One defiles realism, and the other refuses to let it out of its grip. David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 8 July 2024 Amy Baker Harrison was indicted by a Stafford County grand jury on Monday for the first-degree murder of Jacqueline Lard, as well as abduction with the intent to defile, aggravated malicious wounding and breaking and entering with the intent to commit murder, according to the sheriff’s office. Amanda Jackson, CNN, 9 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for defile 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'defile.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

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

Noun

French défilé, from past participle of défiler — see defile entry 3

Verb (2)

French défiler, from dé- de- + filer to move in a column — more at file

First Known Use

Verb (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1685, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1705, in the meaning defined above

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

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Dictionary Entries Near defile

Cite this Entry

“Defile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defile. Accessed 15 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

defile

1 of 2 verb
de·​file di-ˈfī(ə)l How to pronounce defile (audio)
defiled; defiling
1
: to make filthy : dirty
stored grain defiled by rats
2
: to corrupt the purity or perfection of
defile buildings with posters
3
: desecrate
a shrine defiled by the invaders
4
: dishonor entry 2 sense 1
defiled our good name
defilement noun
defiler noun

defile

2 of 2 noun
: a narrow passage or gorge

Legal Definition

defile

transitive verb
de·​file di-ˈfīl How to pronounce defile (audio)
defiled; defiling
: to dishonor by physical acts (as trampling, dirtying, or mutilating)
defiling the flag
defilement noun
defiler noun

More from Merriam-Webster on defile

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