Defiant means boldly refusing to obey or showing open resistance to authority or expectations. When you're defiant, you stand your ground even when someone with power tells you to back down.

Picture a student who gets caught passing notes in class. If the teacher asks for the note and the student refuses with arms crossed and chin up, that's defiance. It's refusing with attitude, with a kind of courage that signals “I won't be pushed around.”

Defiance can be admirable or troublesome depending on the situation. Rosa Parks showed defiance when she refused to give up her bus seat during the Civil Rights movement, standing up against unjust laws. But a child who defiantly refuses to do homework or follow reasonable rules is just making life harder for everyone.

The word carries a sense of boldness and determination. Someone who acts defiantly makes their resistance clear and visible, not hiding their disagreement. You might give someone a defiant look, plant your feet in defiant refusal, or speak with a defiant tone that says you won't be intimidated.

Defiance requires conviction. It means being willing to face consequences rather than submit to something you believe is wrong.