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 return was also seen as a repudiation of U.S. President Donald Trump’s suggestion that large numbers of Palestinians be resettled in Egypt and Jordan. —Wafaa Shurafa, Samy Magdy, TIME, 27 Jan. 2025

Gerena, as he was called by everyone, upset Ramon Velez in that September’s primary which served as a repudiation of the Bronx Democratic machine. —Cary Goodman, New York Daily News, 5 Jan. 2025

Thompson’s killing has catapulted the masked shooter into cause célèbre status for some who consider the crime a symbolic repudiation of the country’s health care system, and authorities fear the shooting may inspire copycat attacks. —Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 12 Dec. 2024

Ashbery’s work, for all its seeming repudiation of the psychological self, could even be seen as an expression of it. —Christian Wiman, Harper's Magazine, 2 Aug. 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.