Added 7 October 2026
defeat
/dɪˈfiːt/ verb
In Latin: vincō Wiktionary
verb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about defeat at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
noun
-
The act or instance of being defeated, of being overcome or vanquished; a loss.
Licking their wounds after a temporary defeat, they planned their next move.
-
The act or instance of defeating, of overcoming, vanquishing.
The inscription records her defeat of the country's enemies in a costly war.
- Frustration (by prevention of success), stymieing; nullification.
Origin
From Middle English defeten, from Middle English defet (“disfigured”, past participle) and defet (“defect”, noun), see Etymology 2 below.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)