disfigure

UK: /dɪsˈfɪgə^r/

US: /dɪsˈfɪgjɚ/

US: (dis fig′yər; Brit. dis fig′ər)

Inflections of 'disfigure' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

disfigures

v 3rd person singular

disfiguring

v pres p

disfigured

v past

disfigured

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

dis•fig•ure /dɪsˈfɪgyɚ/   v. [~ + object] , -ured, -ur•ing. 

1. to mar the appearance of;
   deform;
   deface:
   He was badly disfigured in the fire.

dis•fig•ure•ment, n. [countable* uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

dis•fig•ure  (dis fig′yər; Brit. dis fig′ər), v.t., -ured, -ur•ing. 

1. to mar the appearance or beauty of;
   deform;
   deface:
   Our old towns are increasingly disfigured by tasteless new buildings.
2. to mar the effect or excellence of:
   His reputation was disfigured by instances of political favoritism.

• Anglo-French, Old French desfigurer, equivalent. to des- dis-¹ + -figurer, verb, verbal derivative of figure figure
• Middle English disfiguren 1325–75

dis•fig′ur•er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. spoil, blemish. See mar. 

Antonyms

• 1. beautify.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

disfigure / dɪsˈfɪɡə/ verb (transitive)

1. to spoil the appearance or shape of; deface
2. to mar the effect or quality of