defund

verb

de·​fund (ˌ)dē-ˈfənd How to pronounce defund (audio)
defunded; defunding; defunds
Synonyms of defundnext

transitive verb

: to withdraw funding from

Examples of defund in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Gates says Washburn’s petition is a first volley in an attempt to discredit and then defund the Wildlife Council. — Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2026 Political advertising warns about Democratic plots to defund the police. — ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026 The skill isn’t spreadsheets or KPIs but having the stamina to defund something that’s quietly working, then sit with the people who built and loved it. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026 The shooting deaths in Minnesota of former Kansas City resident Renee Good and ICU nurse Alex Pretti had also sparked efforts to defund the agency. — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 24 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for defund

Word History

First Known Use

1948, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of defund was in 1948

Rhymes for defund

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Browse Nearby Words

defunctive
defund
defuse
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Defund.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defund. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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