1. the action of making something dirty, impure, or corrupt
2. the state of being made dirty, impure, or corrupt

Examples

• The defilement of the river by industrial waste concerned environmentalists.
• Ancient cultures viewed certain acts as causing spiritual defilement.
• The vandals’ defilement of the memorial angered the community.
• She felt a sense of defilement after walking through the polluted area.
• The defilement of the sacred site was considered a serious crime.
• Chemical spills led to the defilement of the groundwater supply.