B1 the fact of losing against someone in a fight or competition, or when someone or something is made to fail: At the last General Election, they suffered a crushing/humiliating defeat. After their defeat in battle, the soldiers surrendered. She admitted/conceded defeat well before all the votes had been counted. → Compare victoryWinning and defeatingScoring, winning and losing in sport admit defeat › to accept that you cannot do something: I thought I could mend the radio myself, but I've had to admit defeat.Losing and being defeatedScoring, winning and losing in sport