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Synonyms

defile

1 American  
[dih-fahyl] / dɪˈfaɪl /

verb (used with object)

defiled, defiling

  1. to make foul, dirty, or unclean; pollute; taint; debase.

  2. to make impure for ceremonial use; desecrate.

  3. to sully, as a person's reputation.

  4. Archaic. to violate the chastity of.

defile 2 American  
[dih-fahyl, dee-fahyl] / dɪˈfaɪl, ˈdi faɪl /

noun

  1. any narrow passage, especially between mountains.

verb (used without object)

defiled, defiling

  1. to march in a line or by files.

defile 1 British  
/ dɪˈfaɪl /

verb

  1. to make foul or dirty; pollute

  2. to tarnish or sully the brightness of; taint; corrupt

  3. to damage or sully (someone's good name, reputation, etc)

  4. to make unfit for ceremonial use; desecrate

  5. to violate the chastity of

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
defile 2 British  
/ ˈdiːfaɪl, dɪˈfaɪl /

noun

  1. a narrow pass or gorge, esp one between two mountains

  2. a single file of soldiers, etc

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. military to march or cause to march in single file

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • defilable adjective
  • defilement noun
  • defiler noun
  • defilingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of defile1

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English defilen, defelen, alteration of defoilen (by association with filen “to defile” ( file 3 ), from Anglo-French, Old French defouler “to trample on, violate”; compare Old English befȳlan “to befoul”

Origin of defile2

1675–85; < French défilé, noun use of past participle of défiler to file off; defilade

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A soldier who requested anonymity explained to AFP that since then the body had been guarded around the clock "so that rival groups do not defile him."

From Barron's • Mar. 3, 2026

Some Parisians backed the move, but others - including heritage campaigners - said it was a bad idea and would "defile" the French capital's iconic monument.

From BBC • Sep. 2, 2024

Sudden deaths, grievous misfortune and other inexplicable events gave rise to speculation that an evil spell was afflicting any who had dared defile the pharaoh’s final resting place.

From Washington Post • Nov. 4, 2022

Protesters blocked construction crews in 2015 and 2019, saying building a new telescope there would further defile a site that they say has already been harmed by a dozen other observatories.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 19, 2022

It’s amazing how quickly he can defile a space.

From "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.