defy

[ verb dih-fahy; noun dih-fahy, dee-fahy ]
/ verb dɪˈfaɪ; noun dɪˈfaɪ, ˈdi faɪ /

verb (used with object), de·fied, de·fy·ing.

to challenge the power of; resist boldly or openly: to defy parental authority.
to offer effective resistance to: a fort that defies attack.
to challenge (a person) to do something deemed impossible: They defied him to dive off the bridge.
Archaic. to challenge to a combat or contest.

noun, plural de·fies.

a challenge; a defiance.

Origin of defy

1250–1300; Middle English defien < Old French desfier, equivalent to des- dis-1 + fier to trust < Vulgar Latin *fīdāre, variant of Latin fīdere

SYNONYMS FOR defy

1 dare, brave, flout, scorn.

OTHER WORDS FROM defy

Words nearby defy

defunctive, defund, defuse, defusion, defuze, defy, deg, deg., degame, deganawidah, degas

British Dictionary definitions for defiable

defy
/ (dɪˈfaɪ) /

verb -fies, -fying or -fied (tr)

to resist (a powerful person, authority, etc) openly and boldly
to elude, esp in a baffling way his actions defy explanation
formal to challenge or provoke (someone to do something judged to be impossible); dare I defy you to climb that cliff
archaic to invite to do battle or combat

Derived forms of defy

defier, noun

Word Origin for defy

C14: from Old French desfier, from des- de- + fier to trust, from Latin fīdere