defund
defund
Pronunciation
/diːˈfʌnd/
de: /diː/
/d/: Voiced alveolar stop
/iː/: Long "ee" vowel sound as in "see"
fund: /fʌnd/
/f/: Voiceless labiodental fricative
/ʌ/: Short "uh" vowel sound as in "cup"
/n/: Voiced alveolar nasal
/d/: Voiced alveolar stop
Word Form Variations
"Defund" is a verb. Therefore, it has various forms related to tense and aspect:
Base Form: defund
Present Participle: defunding
Past Participle: defunded
Third Person Singular Present: defunds
It's important to note that "defund" is not a noun, so it doesn't have plural forms like some verbs (e.g., "cut" vs. "cuts").
However, you can create related nouns by adding suffixes:
defunding: (noun) the act of withdrawing funding
defunder: (noun) a person or entity that withdraws funding
These derived nouns follow standard noun rules, with "defunders" being the plural of "defunder."
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb
Definition 1: To withdraw funding from; to cease providing financial support to. This is often used in the context of government or institutional budgets, where funding is revoked or reduced.
Synonyms: divest, deprive of funds, withdraw support, cut off, defray
Antonyms: fund, finance, support, subsidize, endow
Definition 2: (In a more general sense) To deprive of resources or the means to operate. This definition extends beyond just financial support, implying a removal of necessary elements for functioning.
Synonyms: disable, weaken, cripple, hamstring, undercut
Antonyms: empower, enable, strengthen, support, bolster
Noun (Derived - "defunding")
Definition: The act of withdrawing funding or financial support from an organization, program, or individual.
Synonyms: disinvestment, withdrawal of funds, budget cut, divestiture
Antonyms: funding, financing, investment, endowment
Examples of Use
General Public Discourse:
"Defund the police" became a rallying cry during the 2020 protests following the death of George Floyd. This sparked widespread debate about reallocating police budgets towards social services and alternative approaches to public safety. (The New York Times, The Washington Post)
Newspapers & Online Publications:
"Some activists want to defund police departments entirely, while others want to redirect some of their funding to social services." (The Associated Press)
"The city council voted to defund the controversial surveillance program after public outcry over privacy concerns." (The Guardian)
"Republicans accused Democrats of wanting to defund the military, despite their proposed budget increases in other areas." (Fox News)
Books:
In Alex S. Vitale's book "The End of Policing," he argues for defunding the police and investing in alternative systems for addressing social problems. (Verso Books)
Michelle Alexander, in her book "The New Jim Crow," discusses how mass incarceration has defunded communities of color by diverting resources away from education, healthcare, and social programs. (The New Press)
Entertainment:
The HBO drama series "The Wire" explored the complexities of the drug war and the impact of defunding social programs in Baltimore. (HBO)
The documentary "13th" examines the history of racial inequality in the United States and argues that mass incarceration has defunded and destabilized Black communities. (Netflix)
10 Famous Quotes Using Defund
"Defund the police does not mean abolish the police. It means taking funds from broken systems and reinvesting in community." — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
"When we say 'defund the police,' what we're saying is invest in the resources our communities need." — Black Lives Matter Global Network
"You can’t just defund bad systems. You must fund better ones." — Nikole Hannah-Jones
"The call to defund the police is really a demand to fund safety in a new way." — Patrisse Cullors (co-founder of Black Lives Matter)
"To defund something is to declare that its function no longer serves the public good in its current form." — Ibram X. Kendi
"You can’t defund education and expect an educated society." — Kamala Harris (paraphrased from campaign speeches)
"Defund is not destruction; it’s reallocation, transformation, and vision." — Angela Davis
"We do not want to defund the police; we want to refund the people." — Rev. William Barber II
"Calls to defund the arts are calls to dim the light of culture and understanding." — Lin-Manuel Miranda
"You can’t defund the truth. It always finds a way to be heard." — Unknown (widely shared in journalism and free press advocacy circles)
Etymology
Imagine "defund" as a word built with LEGO bricks.
"Fund" is the first brick, meaning to provide money or resources. Think of funding a school or a project.
"De-" is the second brick. It's like a tiny LEGO remover that takes something away. You see it in words like "deactivate" (take away activation) or "deconstruct" (take away construction).
So, when you put them together, "de-" + "fund" means to "take away funding."
Essentially, you're removing the money or resources that were previously given.
Early Use:
While the word seems very modern, it actually first popped up in the 1950s! Back then, it was mostly used in formal settings like government and military discussions about budgets. It wasn't a word you'd hear every day.
Modern Use:
"Defund" became a much more common word in recent years, particularly with the "defund the police" movement. This brought the word into everyday conversations, news headlines, and even TV shows.
So, while "defund" might sound like a new word, it's actually been around for a while. Its meaning has stayed pretty consistent – to take away funding – but how we use it has evolved.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Defund
Lesser-Known and Original Phrases:
"Defund the hate": This phrase, while not widely used, could be employed to advocate for withdrawing support from organizations or individuals promoting hatred and discrimination.
"Defund the war machine": This phrase expresses opposition to military spending and advocates for redirecting those resources towards social programs.
"Defund the polluters": This phrase targets industries contributing to environmental damage and calls for divesting from them.
Idioms with Synonyms for Similar Effect:
"Cut off at the knees": This idiom conveys the crippling effect of defunding, rendering something powerless or ineffective.
"Pull the plug": This idiom captures the sudden cessation of funding, bringing something to an abrupt halt.
"Turn off the tap": This idiom emphasizes the control over funding, implying a deliberate decision to stop the flow of resources.
"Bleed them dry": This idiom, while more aggressive, conveys the gradual depletion of resources that can result from defunding.
"Starve the beast": As mentioned earlier, this metaphor promotes reducing funding to limit the power of an entity, particularly the government.
Why "Defund" Is Less Common in Idioms:
Specificity: "Defund" has a very specific meaning related to finance. Idioms often rely on more figurative language.
Recent prominence: It hasn't had enough time to become ingrained in everyday language and develop idiomatic uses.
Political connotations: Its association with social and political movements can make it less versatile for casual expressions.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of defund from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
