defund

[ dee-fuhnd ]

verb (used with object)

1. to withdraw financial support from, especially as an instrument of legislative control:

   Many university programs were defunded by the recent government cutbacks.

2. to deplete the financial resources of:

   The cost of the lawsuit defunded the company's operating budget.

Word History and Origins

Origin of defund¹

de- + fund

Example Sentences

Before the general election, Labour said it would "pause and review" the plans to defund such courses.

From BBC

T-levels were launched by the former Conservative government, which planned to make them the main route into vocational education by defunding alternative courses, like BTecs, with overlapping subject areas.

From BBC

“Whether you like them or not, whether you want to defund them or not, you cannot put their lives in jeopardy,” McNicholas said.

From Los Angeles Times

The commission will now have a guaranteed minimum budget so that elected officials can’t defund ethics enforcement.

From Los Angeles Times

He said the party had struggled to counteract Republican attack lines on "anarchy on college campuses, defund the police, biological boys playing in girls' sports, and a general attack on traditional values".

From BBC