Defy Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary (original) (raw)

Britannica Dictionary definition of DEFY

[+ object]

1

:

to refuse to obey (something or someone)

• She defied her parents and dropped out of school.

2

:

to make (something) very difficult or impossible

• The article defies a simple summary. [=the article cannot be explained by a simple summary]
• views of nature that defy belief/description [=that are hard to believe/describe]

3

:

to resist or fight (something)

• The group has continued to defy all efforts to stop them.

4

:

to go against (something)

• The team defied the odds [=did something that was very unlikely] and won the championship.
• an explanation that defies all logic [=an explanation that does not make any sense]

5

:

to tell (someone) to do something that you think cannot be done

• I defy you to prove that I lied.
• I defy anyone to name a better film. [=I do not think that anyone can name a better film; I do not think that there is a better film]