How to pronounce defy
Say it like dih-FY. Defy has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce defy. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dih
- FY
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Defy pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- dihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- FYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of defy
American and British speakers say defy in essentially the same way: /dɪˈfaɪ/ in the US and /dɪˈfaɪ/ in the UK.
British respelling: dih-FY.
What does defy mean?
- To challenge (someone) or brave (a hazard or opposition).“to defy an enemy; to defy the power of a magistrate; to defy the arguments of an opponent; to defy public opinion”
- To refuse to obey.“If you defy your teacher you may end up in detention.”
- To not conform to or follow a pattern, set of rules or expectations.
Where does defy come from?
From Old French desfier, from Vulgar Latin *disfidare (“renounce one's faith”), from Latin dis- (“away”) + fidus (“faithful”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with defy
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of defy.
Questions about saying defy
How do you pronounce defy?
Say dih-FY. The American pronunciation is /dɪˈfaɪ/. In British English it is /dɪˈfaɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in defy?
Defy has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FY). Broken into parts: dih · FY.
Do Americans and Brits say defy the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dɪˈfaɪ/ and the British form is /dɪˈfaɪ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.