defiance

CEFRB2

/dɪˈfaɪ(j)əns/

noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    Refusal to obey someone or accept something.

  2. 02

    noun

    Extra detail

    A challenging attitude or behaviour; challenge.

Examples

  • He kept on drinking in defiance of his doctor's warning.

  • He shook his fist in a symbolic gesture of defiance.

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
4
Parts of speech
1
Citations
3

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

  1. Open or bold resistance to or disregard for authority, opposition, or power; refusing to give up.

  2. The feeling, or spirit of being defiant.

More examples

In context

  • He hurled defiance at me.

  • But Sophia's mother was not the woman to brook defiance. After a few moments' vain remonstrance her husband complied. His manner and appearance were suggestive of a satiated sea-lion.

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

Her blank of the curfew resulted in a stern warning from her parents.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

From Middle English defiaunce, from Old French desfiance, from desfier. By surface analysis, defy + -ance.