verb

defile

dih-FYL

verb

To make something dirty, corrupt, or impure, often something considered sacred or pure.

"Vandals defiled the ancient temple with spray paint."

"She felt his lies had defiled the memory of their friendship."

noun

A narrow gorge or pass, originally one narrow enough for soldiers to march through only in single file.

"The convoy moved slowly through a rocky defile in the mountains."

How to Use Defile

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo spoil or corrupt something pure — or, as a noun, a narrow passage soldiers must cross single file.

Common mistake

The verb and the noun are historically unrelated words that happen to look identical — don't assume one explains the other.

Common pairings

defile a shrine defile someone's honor march through a defile

Word Forms

defiled past tense, defiled past tense, defiled past tense, defiles plural, defiles plural, defiles singular, defiles singular, defiles singular

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Vandals _____ the ancient temple with spray paint.

Etymology

The verb comes from Middle English defilen, tangled up with an older word defoulen ("to trample, oppress"), itself from Old French defouler ("to trample, crush"). The noun sense (a narrow pass) comes separately from French défiler, "to march in file."

Rhymes for defile

file mile tile pile wile vile rile Nile bile Chile smile while

See all rhymes for defile →