# defeat

> English word · Verb · IPA /dɪˈfiːt/ · frequency rank #2,939

## Definitions
1. To overcome in battle or contest.
2. To reduce, to nothing, the strength of.
3. To nullify
4. To prevent (something) from being achieved.

## Etymology
From Middle English defeten, from Middle English defet (“disfigured”, past participle) and defet (“defect”, noun), see Etymology 2 below.

## Easily confused with
- **deft** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/defeat-vs-deft)
- **defer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/defeat-vs-defer)
- **defend** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/defeat-vs-defend)
- **desert** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/defeat-vs-desert)
- **detect** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/defeat-vs-detect)
- **defect** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/defeat-vs-defect)
- **detest** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/defeat-vs-detest)
- **demean** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/defeat-vs-demean)
- **defiant** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/defeat-vs-defiant)
- **deflect** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/defeat-vs-deflect)
- **deflate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/defeat-vs-deflate)
- **defeated** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/defeat-vs-defeated)
- **decent** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/decent-vs-defeat)
- **deceit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/deceit-vs-defeat)

## Common misspellings (8)
`ddefeat`, `deefat`, `defaet`, `defeatt`, `defeta`, `deffeat`, `dfeeat`, `edfeat`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/defeat