repudiation

noun

re·​pu·​di·​a·​tion ri-ˌpyü-dē-ˈā-shən 

: the act of repudiating : the state of being repudiated

especially : the refusal of public authorities to acknowledge or pay a debt

repudiationist

ri-ˌpyü-dē-ˈā-sh(ə-)nist 

noun

Synonyms

• contradiction
• denegation
• denial
• disallowance
• disavowal
• disclaimer
• disconfirmation
• negation
• rejection

Examples of repudiation in a Sentence

voters seemed satisfied by the candidate's public repudiation of the beliefs of an organization to which he had briefly belonged as a youth

New Year's resolutions typically include the repudiation of chocolate and other indulgences and the promise to resume working out at the gym.

Recent Examples on the Web

The election results were at least in part a repudiation of institutional authorities (the federal government, our public-health apparatus, the media), and crypto helped deliver them: The industry formed a super PAC that raised more than $200 million to support crypto-friendly politicians. —Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 11 Dec. 2024

Other California reform advocates, however, rejected the idea that the election results were a repudiation of progressive policies. —James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 6 Dec. 2024

Each side has murdered a child of the other, and there’s no amount of repudiation that could fix it. —Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 30 June 2024

The song is a repudiation of the cowboy culture that Tod saw taking over Nashville. —Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 27 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1530, in the meaning defined above

Legal Definition

repudiation

noun

re·​pu·​di·​a·​tion ri-ˌpyü-dē-ˈā-shən 

: the rejection or renunciation of a duty or obligation (as under a contract)

especially : anticipatory repudiation

Note: A party aggrieved by a repudiation may consider a repudiated contract to have been breached and bring an action for relief.