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.
This polarization means even post-Trump, Democrats may cling to divisive issues like defund-the-police echoes or aggressive cultural wars, repelling the non-ideological public weary of extremes. Nafees Alam, Boston Herald, 18 Oct. 2025 In 2013, Heritage Action announced a campaign to defund the Affordable Care Act. Andy Kroll, ProPublica, 18 Oct. 2025 In 2013, Heritage Action announced a campaign to defund the Affordable Care Act. Andy Kroll, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2025 The government of Javier Milei, Argentina’s far-right leader, has enacted a controversial plan to defund the National Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual Arts (INCAA), which is the country’s national film body. Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 14 Oct. 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Defund.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defund. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on defund

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!