N@N

NEW YORK--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Western Asset High Yield Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. (NYSE: HYI) announced today monthly distributions of $0.1470per common share for December 2011, and January and February 2012. The December distribution is comprised of $0.0613 per common share of income and $0.0857 per common share of short-term capital gain.

The distribution schedule appears below:

This press release is not for tax reporting purposes but is being provided to announce the amount of the Fund's distributions that have been declared by the Board of Directors. In early 2012 and early 2013, after definitive information is available, the Fund will send shareholders a Form 1099-DIV, if applicable, specifying how the distributions paid by the Fund during the prior calendar year should be characterized for purposes of reporting the distributions on a shareholderas tax return (e.g., ordinary income, long-term capital gain or return of capital).

Western Asset High Yield Defined Opportunity Fund Inc., a non-diversified, limited-term, closed-end management investment company, is managed by Legg Mason Partners Fund Advisor, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Legg Mason, Inc., and is sub-advised by Western Asset Management Company, an affiliate of the investment manager.

Contact the Fund at 1-888-777-0102 for additional information, or consult the Fundas web site at [ www.leggmason.com/cef ].

Data and commentary provided in this press release are for informational purposes only. Legg Mason and its affiliates do not engage in selling shares of the Fund.