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defund

(transitive, chiefly, _, US) To cancel funding for.

diːˈfʌndCurrent102 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
🗺️ Regional & Other
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Seen in the wild
5 citations · last seen May 2026

Seen in the wild

Definitions

#1·Apr 27, 2026

(transitive, chiefly, _, US) To cancel funding for.

For parents

Defund means: To cancel funding for.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up. For most families this word will pass by without incident; it is more a vocabulary curiosity than a parenting concern.

For ESL learners

defund means: To cancel funding for.. Register: neutral, standard English. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself. A formal-English equivalent (a synonym or descriptive phrase) is usually safer in writing. When in doubt, paraphrase rather than reuse the slang form.

Cluster: general
Heard in the wild
  • “and look if arbys could declare war or defund usaid, i would also ask obama to come back and denounce the new manager of arbys”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “The worst of the worst have been recruited for POS president’s private militia, who as we all know masquerade as a legitimate federal agency Disband, defund the fraudulent goons or watch these stories become more frequent It’s only just begun…”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “We saw the same thing with "defund the police." That was an op to sabotage BLM and it worked.”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “defund de rupsjes nooitgenoeg www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2026/...”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “As I recall, there were two waves of Defund the Police. The original call came from a radical segment of the BLM rallies in Minneapolis. And they actually meant it: Defund and abolish the police because acab.”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
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For specific readers

Defund means: To cancel funding for.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up. For most families this word will pass by without incident; it is more a vocabulary curiosity than a parenting concern.

Why is this section here?

Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.

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🗺️About Regional & Other slang

Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.

See all Regional & Other slang on Slangora.

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