disallow

verb

dis·​al·​low ˌdis-ə-ˈlau̇ 

disallowed; disallowing; disallows

transitive verb

1

: to deny the force, truth, or validity of

2

: to refuse to allow

disallowance

ˌdis-ə-ˈlau̇-ən(t)s 

noun

Synonyms

• contradict
• deny
• disaffirm
• disavow
• disclaim
• disconfirm
• disown
• gainsay
• negate
• negative
• refute
• reject
• repudiate

Examples of disallow in a Sentence

The touchdown was disallowed because of a penalty.

disallowing the philosophical concept of free will

Recent Examples on the Web

Prompted by ProPublica’s reporting on efforts by right-wing activists to disallow ballots, North Carolina Democrats have introduced a bill designed to prevent votes from being tossed out based on postelection rule changes. —Doug Bock Clark, ProPublica, 10 Apr. 2025

This is misleading because those foundations typically allow many charges to a grant that are disallowed by the NIH. —William Stafford Noble, Chicago Tribune, 10 Apr. 2025

An appeals court judge has sharply criticized his colleagues for disallowing tens of thousands of votes in a crucial North Carolina election. —John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Apr. 2025

Sacramento is not yet enforcing a new state law that disallows a lot of parking within 20 feet of intersections, known as daylighting, to help protect pedestrians from death and serious injury. —Ariane Lange, Sacramento Bee, 31 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for disallow

• anyhow
• carabao
• disavow
• allow
• avow
• basedow
• chiao
• endow
• eyebrow
• highbrow
• lanao
• meow

Kids Definition

disallow

verb

dis·​al·​low ˌdis-ə-ˈlau̇ 

: to refuse to admit or allow : reject

disallow a claim

disallowance

-ˈlau̇-ən(t)s 

noun

Legal Definition

disallow

transitive verb

dis·​al·​low ˌdi-sə-ˈlau̇ 

1

: to deny the truth, force, or validity of

disallowed the deduction

disallow a bankruptcy claim

2

: to refuse to allow

disallow payment of benefits

disallowance noun