Standard Lemma guide

defriend

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɛnd

1

verb

Meaning 1

To remove from one's list of friends (e.g. on a social networking website).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncommon

Qualifier: social media

Examples

  • 2005, Schmitt et al, Professional CSS: Cascading Style Sheets for Web Design But why subject myself and friends to the awkward social construct of being virtually "defriended" because I want to save some space on a Web page?

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *de Proto-Indo-European *-h1 Proto-Indo-European *déh1 Proto-Italic *dē Latin dē Latin dē-der. English de- Proto-Indo-European *preyH- Proto-Indo-European *-ós Proto-Indo-European *priHós Proto-Germanic *frijōną Proto-Germanic *frijōndz Proto-West Germanic *friund Old English frēond Middle English frend English friend English defriend From de- + friend.