According to Merriam-Webster, the prefix “de” mean to reverse, remove, or do the opposite. When “de” is place in front of the word fund, or defund. Defund then means to remove all funding from an entity.

If a police force is defunded, then 100% of its funding is removed. To remove 100% of the funding from a police force would cause it to close completely.

What actually is happening is the reallocation of funds. The funds are being designated for different purposes.

So for all those ignorant politicians that throw around the the word “defund”, STOP. It is not an accurate or appropriate word. STOP using buzz words that you think will make people react.