rebut

verb

re·​but ri-ˈbət 

rebutted; rebutting

transitive verb

1

: to drive or beat back : repel

2

a

: to contradict or oppose by formal legal argument, plea, or countervailing proof

b

: to expose the falsity of : refute

intransitive verb

: to make or furnish an answer or counter proof

rebuttable

ri-ˈbə-tə-bəl 

adjective

Did you know?

The -but in rebut once meant basically "butt", so rebut's original meanings were "to drive or beat back" and "to attack with violent language". Rebuttals can still be rather violent, as anyone who has watched some heated moments in a presidential debate can testify. The word is often used by lawyers, since the lawyer for the accused or for the party being sued almost always tries to rebut the charges against his or her client; but it's also used in plenty of contexts outside the courtroom.

Synonyms

• beat off
• fend (off)
• repel
• repulse
• stave off
• turn away
• turn back

Examples of rebut in a Sentence

Her lawyer attempted to rebut the witness's testimony.

Stalingrad's defenders were finally able to rebut the besiegers, but only after a horrendous loss of life.

Recent Examples on the Web

Attorneys for Big League Chew will have the chance to try to rebut Ford Gum’s account in court filings. —Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 16 Dec. 2024

ByteDance rebutted those allegations in its lawsuit, arguing there has been no tangible evidence that the app poses any security risk and filed a lawsuit against the Justice Department in May. —Steven Portnoy, ABC News, 13 Dec. 2024

Carrillo rebutted the 43-page Lee report, with a nearly 50-minute presentation, defending her work against Lee’s mismanagement claims, including personnel decisions. —Aaron Sullivan, Austin American-Statesman, 12 Dec. 2024

There were no undercover FBI agents on the National Mall on Jan. 6, 2021, as then-President Trump encouraged his supporters to march to the Capitol, according to the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office of the Inspector General, rebutting a conspiracy theory surrounding the day’s events. —Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 12 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French reboter, from re- + boter to butt — more at butt entry 3

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

rebut

verb

re·​but ri-ˈbət 

rebutted; rebutting

1

: to oppose by argument

2

: to prove to be wrong especially by argument or by proof that the opposite is true

Legal Definition

rebut

transitive verb

re·​but ri-ˈbət 

rebutted; rebutting

: to refute, counteract, or disprove (as opposing evidence) by evidence or argument

rebut damaging testimony

rebut a presumption

rebuttable adjective

rebuttably adverb

Etymology

Anglo-French reboter, rebuter to answer a charge, bar from an action, literally, to repulse, rebuff, from Old French reboter, from re- back + boter to push, butt