defeats

Defeats is the plural noun form of defeat and the third-person singular present tense of the verb defeat. As a noun, a defeat is a loss in a contest, battle, or other challenge; as a verb, to defeat means to win against, to prevent the success of, or to cause the failure of an opponent or objective. The term can also describe thwarting a plan or policy, such as defeating a bill or defeating an argument.

Etymology: Defeat derives from Old French defait (defait), from des- 'un-' + fait 'made, done', meaning undone. Through Middle English, the sense broadened from undoing to overthrow or overcoming in competition.

Usage: In sports, defeats refer to multiple losses. In military history, defeats denote losses in battles. In law and politics, to defeat a measure is to prevent its passage or adoption. Idioms include "defeats the purpose," or "the defense defeats the attack," depending on context.

Synonyms and related terms include loss, setback, rout for the noun; beat, conquer, thwart, foil for the verb. Antonyms include victory and success. The term is widely used in journalism, history, and policy analysis as a neutral descriptor of outcomes where one side fails to achieve its objectives.

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