Definitions for Defiance
dɪˈfaɪ ənsde·fi·ance

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:3.0 / 2 votes

1. defiance, rebelliousnessnoun

   intentionally contemptuous behavior or attitude

2. defiancenoun

   a hostile challenge

3. defiancenoun

   a defiant act

WiktionaryRate this definition:1.0 / 2 votes

1. defiancenoun

   The feeling, or spirit of being defiant.

2. Etymology: From defiance from défiant (present participle of défier).

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. DEFIANCEnoun

   Etymology: from deffi, French.

   1. A challenge; an invitation to fight.

   The firey Tybalt, with his sword prepar’d,
   Which, as he breath’d defiance to my ears,
   He swung about his head. William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet.

   Nor is it just to bring
   A war, without a just defiance made. John Dryden, Ind. Emp.

   2. A challenge to make any impeachment good.3. Expression of abhorrence or contempt.

   The Novatian heresy was very apt to attract well meaning souls, who, seeing it bad such express defiance to apostacy, could not suspect that it was itself any defection from the faith. Decay of Piety.

   No body will so openly bid defiance to common sense, as to affirm visible and direct contradictions. John Locke.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. Defiancenoun

   the act of defying, putting in opposition, or provoking to combat; a challenge; a provocation; a summons to combat

2. Defiancenoun

   a state of opposition; willingness to flight; disposition to resist; contempt of opposition

3. Defiancenoun

   a casting aside; renunciation; rejection

4. Etymology: [OF. defiance, desfiance, challenge, fr. desfier to challenge, F. dfier. See Defy.]

FreebaseRate this definition:3.5 / 2 votes

1. Defiance

   Defiance is a 2008 World War II era film written, produced and directed by Edward Zwick, set during the occupation of Belarus by Nazi Germany. The film is an account of the Bielski partisans, a group led by three Jewish brothers who saved and recruited Jews in Belarus during the Second World War. The film stars Daniel Craig as Tuvia Bielski, Liev Schreiber as Zus Bielski, Jamie Bell as Asael Bielski and George MacKay as Aron Bielski. The film is an adaptation of Nechama Tec's book Defiance: The Bielski Partisans. Production began in early September 2007 and had a limited release in the United States on December 31, 2008, and went into general release worldwide in January and February 2009.

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Defiance

   de-fī′ans, n. the act of defying: a challenge to combat: aggressiveness: contempt of opposition.—adj. Defī′ant, full of defiance, insolently bold.—adv. Defī′antly.—n. Defī′antness.—adj. Defī′atory, bidding defiance.—Bid defiance to, to defy.

Suggested ResourcesRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. defiance

   Song lyrics by defiance -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by defiance on the Lyrics.com website.

Matched Categories

1. • Challenge
   • Intractability
   • Resistance

How to pronounce Defiance?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say Defiance in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of Defiance in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of Defiance in Pythagorean Numerology is: 2

Examples of Defiance in a Sentence

1. Alexander Navarro:

   According to newspaper reports, people just basically mocked the mask order. There was widespread opposition and defiance -- people refusing to wear their masks.

2. Alan Kazdin:

   Well, what does the research show? That no fault of anybody but the stress changed the [parent's] tone of voice, it's not about blaming, but I'm saying we put defiance in the child.

3. Alireza Jafarzadeh:

   Our revelation today is significant because it shows that the Qods Force of the IRGC has in recent years expanded its arsenal to step up terrorism and warmongering to destabilize the region by arming its proxies with UAVs, this is in line with the regime’s nuclear defiance and its repression at home.

4. Linda Davidsen:

   We have been studying defiance from the last 150 years, the way to force change is by attempting disruptive, non-violent, respectful action that has an element of sacrifice.

5. Joshua Pollack:

   This is a statement, symbolic of defiance, the pursuit of sanctions relief is over. Nothing is made explicit here, but it starts to set new expectations about the coming course of policy for 2020.

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