yenilgi

Yenilgi is a Turkish noun meaning defeat or loss, the state of being defeated in a competition, conflict, or other adverse outcome. It is used for defeats in sports, military campaigns, elections, and personal disputes, and can describe both single events and cumulative setbacks.

Etymology: The word comes from the verb yenilmek, to be defeated, with the nominalizing suffix -gi, which forms abstract nouns indicating a state or condition. A closely related term is mağlubiyet, a more formal noun for defeat used in official or competitive contexts.

Usage: Yenilgi appears frequently in sports reporting, military history, and political analysis. Common collocations include büyük yenilgi (great defeat) and ağır yenilgi (heavy defeat). The expression yenilgiye uğramak means to suffer a defeat; yenilgiye uğratmak means to cause someone to suffer defeat, though the latter is less common in everyday use and can carry a more adversarial nuance.

In culture and discourse, yenilgi is discussed as a factor shaping strategy, morale, and historical memory. It is often contrasted with victory or success, and as a concept it appears in literature, film, and journalism to frame outcomes, resilience, and the human response to loss.