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

An institution that was once untouchable has fallen from its pedestal and become subject to public debate, scorn, and even repudiation. —Tamara Loos, Foreign Affairs, 7 Dec. 2020

Carter noted that Republicans had criticized Ford’s foreign policy at their convention, a striking repudiation of an incumbent president. —Frederic J. Frommer, Washington Post, 26 June 2024

Actually, their repudiation encompasses John Locke, Baron de Montesquieu, Adam Smith, David Ricardo and James Madison. —George F. Will, Washington Post, 19 July 2024

French elections were less a victory for the left or right than a noisy repudiation of the center—namely, the increasingly unpopular President Emmanuel Macron. —Ian Bremmer, TIME, 18 July 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.