1. wrongfully keeps possession of property that belongs to another person
Usage: legal term; archaic

Examples

• The tenant deforces the landlord by refusing to vacate after the lease expired.
• He deforces his neighbor’s land by continuing to occupy it without permission.
• The court ruled that she deforces the rightful heir’s inheritance.
• Ancient laws prohibited anyone from deforcing another’s lawful property.
• The defendant was accused of deforcing the plaintiff’s goods.