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Added 9 October 2026

defile

/dɪˈfaɪl/ verb

In Latin: coinquinō, inquinō, polluo Wiktionary

verb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about defile at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

To make (someone or something) physically dirty or unclean; to befoul, to soil.
To urinate on someone’s grave is an example of a way to defile it.
To make (someone or something) physically dirty or unclean; to befoul, to soil.
To make (someone or something) morally impure or unclean; to corrupt, to tarnish.

verb

To march in a single file or line; to file.
To march across (a place) in files or lines.

noun

A narrow passage or way (originally , one which soldiers could only march through in a single file or line), especially a narrow gorge or pass between mountains.
An act of marching in files or lines. A single file of soldiers; any single file.
An act of marching in files or lines.

verb

Synonym of defilade (“to fortify (something) as a protection from enfilading fire”).

Origin

From Late Middle English defilen (“to make dirty, befoul; rape; abuse; destroy; injure; oppress”) [and other forms], a variant of defoulen (“to make dirty, defile, pollute; have sexual intercourse with; rape; etc.”) (compare also defoilen).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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