defeat
n. C / Un. an event where you lose a game, a fight, or an election. It is the opposite of a win or a victory.
n. the act of losing a contest, battle, or election; the state of being overcome by an opponent. Often used in political or military contexts to describe a decisive failure.
The team suffered a heavy defeat in the final game.
After the unexpected election defeat, the party leader decided to resign from her position immediately.
Historians argue that the military defeat was not due to a lack of resources but rather a failure of strategic communication between the high command and the front lines.
From Middle English defeten, from Middle English defet (“disfigured”, past participle) and defet (“defect”, noun), see Etymology 2 below.
From Middle English defet, from French deffet, desfait, past participle of the verb desfaire (compare modern French défaire), from des- + faire.
Countable when referring to a specific instance of losing; uncountable when referring to the general concept of being beaten.
- 01
snatch defeat from the jaws of victory
To suddenly lose a contest one seemed very likely to win, especially through mistakes or bad judgment.
- 02
snatch victory from the jaws of defeat
To suddenly win a contest when it appears that loss is a foregone conclusion, to succeed in an endeavor through reversal of fortune, skill, effort, or good judgment.