defund

verb

de·​fund (ˌ)dē-ˈfənd How to pronounce defund (audio)
defunded; defunding; defunds

transitive verb

: to withdraw funding from

Examples of defund in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In January 2022, 42 Republicans and Democrats in Congress signed an open letter calling for the U.S. to defund the COI. Beth Bailey, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2025 Michelle Dunn, a union organizer with the Cincinnati Federation of Teachers, told Blue Ash protesters that her group would stage a March 4 event protesting efforts to defund and dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. Patricia Gallagher Newberry, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025 The 6-3 decision, which broke along ideological lines, was a significant victory for conservative efforts to defund the private health clinic network, clearing the way for other states to follow suit. Devin Dwyer, ABC News, 26 June 2025 The Senate is also still sorting through rulings over the weekend that threaten the bill’s filibuster protections: Efforts to defund the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and to shift some SNAP aid to states are among the items getting urgently reworked. Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 23 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for defund

Word History

First Known Use

1948, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of defund was in 1948

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Cite this Entry

“Defund.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defund. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.

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