Defeat: meaning, definitions and examples

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defeat

[ dɪˈfiːt ]

^{Context #1}

in battle

To defeat someone means to win a victory over them in a battle, game, or contest.

Synonyms

beat, conquer, overcome

Examples of usage

The army was defeated in a fierce battle.
She defeated her opponent in the tennis match.

^{Context #2}

in sports

The fact of being defeated in a game or competition.

Synonyms

failure, loss, setback

Examples of usage

We suffered a defeat in the final match.
The team was disappointed by their defeat.

Translations

Translations of the word "defeat" in other languages:

🇵🇹 derrota

🇮🇳 हार

🇩🇪 Niederlage

🇮🇩 kekalahan

🇺🇦 поразка

🇵🇱 porażka

🇯🇵 敗北 (はいぼく)

🇫🇷 défaite

🇪🇸 derrota

🇹🇷 yenilgi

🇰🇷 패배 (패배)

🇸🇦 هزيمة

🇨🇿 porážka

🇸🇰 porážka

🇨🇳 失败 (shībài)

🇸🇮 poraz

🇮🇸 ósigur

🇰🇿 жеңіліс

🇬🇪 დამარცხება

🇦🇿 məğlubiyyət

🇲🇽 derrota

Word origin

The word 'defeat' originated from the Latin word 'deficere', meaning 'to fail' or 'to be lacking'. Over time, it evolved to its current usage in English, referring to the act of overcoming an opponent or being unsuccessful in a competition. The concept of defeat has been present throughout human history, from ancient battles to modern sports competitions, symbolizing the struggle for victory and the acceptance of loss.