defy
B2Neutral to Formal
Definition
Meaning
To openly refuse to obey someone or something; to challenge or resist.
To be of such a nature that it makes a particular action, description, or outcome very difficult or impossible; to resist or withstand successfully.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word 'defy' inherently contains a sense of boldness or audacity. It is not simply 'disobey' but implies a conscious, often public, resistance to authority, a challenge, or an expectation. When used in the second sense (e.g., 'defy description'), it personifies the object, suggesting it actively resists being categorized.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The verb forms (defy, defies, defied) are identical.
Connotations
Connotations are identical; it carries the same weight of resistance and challenge in both dialects.
Frequency
Slightly more common in formal and journalistic registers in both varieties. No notable difference in frequency.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[transitive] defy + noun (authority, law, expectations)[transitive] defy + sb + to do sth (as a challenge)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to defy belief/description/logic”
- “to defy the odds”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might appear in contexts about disruptive startups or regulatory non-compliance, e.g., 'The new platform defies traditional business models.'
Academic
Common in political science, sociology, and literature to discuss resistance to authority, norms, or categorization.
Everyday
Used to talk about disobeying parents/rules, or to express that something is amazing/incomprehensible.
Technical
Rare, but possible in physics or engineering contexts (e.g., 'a material that defies corrosion').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The protesters openly defied the court order.
- Her recovery defied all medical expectations.
- I defy you to find a better pint in London.
American English
- The company defied the new regulations.
- The view from the summit defies description.
- I defy anyone to watch that movie and not laugh.
adverb
British English
- There is no standard adverb form. The related adverb is 'defiantly'.
American English
- There is no standard adverb form. The related adverb is 'defiantly'.
adjective
British English
- There is no common adjective form. The related adjective is 'defiant'.
American English
- There is no common adjective form. The related adjective is 'defiant'.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The child defied his mother and ate the sweet.
- The magician seemed to defy gravity.
- They were arrested for defying the government's new law.
- The beauty of the old forest defies description.
- The athlete's performance defied all expectations for someone of his age.
- He defied his parents' wishes and pursued a career in art.
- The dissident's writings continued to defy the regime's censorship efforts for years.
- The phenomenon defies conventional scientific explanation, challenging our fundamental assumptions.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a DE-FY-ing act: DE (against) + FY (sounds like 'defy' itself). Imagine a person saying 'I'm DE against you, so I will deFY you!'
Conceptual Metaphor
RESISTANCE IS WAR/STRUGGLE (to defy is to fight against); INCOMPREHENSIBILITY IS RESISTANCE (something that defies logic resists being understood).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'оскорблять' (to insult). The Russian 'бросить вызов' is a good match for the 'challenge' sense. 'Ослушаться' is closer for the 'disobey' sense but is weaker.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'deny' instead of 'defy' ('He denied the orders' ≠ 'He defied the orders'). Confusing the structure 'defy sb to do sth' (a challenge) with simply 'defy sb'.
Practice
Quiz
In the sentence 'The facts defy easy explanation,' what is the closest meaning of 'defy'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The main noun form is 'defiance'. A person who defies is a 'defiant' (adjective) or can be called a 'defier', though this is less common.
No, 'defy' is a transitive verb and requires a direct object. You must defy *something* (e.g., authority, logic, expectations).
'Disobey' is more general and often used for rules or direct commands, especially from figures like parents or teachers. 'Defy' is stronger, implying bold, open resistance and often a challenge to authority itself, not just a specific instruction.
This is a rhetorical challenge. 'I defy you to prove me wrong' means 'I am confident you cannot prove me wrong, and I challenge you to try.' It expresses strong doubt that the action can be done.