What does repudiation mean?
Repudiation means a deliberate and often public rejection of a belief, claim, relationship, or commitment. The word is especially used in political, legal, diplomatic, and institutional contexts, where someone formally denies that a claim is true or declares that an agreement or obligation no longer stands. It is stronger than simple opposition: repudiating something involves explicitly disavowing it or refusing to recognize its authority. For example, a government may issue a repudiation of an earlier policy, while a person may make a repudiation of an association with a controversial organization. Because the word carries a formal and often confrontational tone, it is less suitable for ordinary expressions of disagreement.
nounAn explicit rejection or disavowal of a belief, claim, association, or obligation. It can also refer to a refusal to recognize or accept something as valid.
- An explicit disavowal of a belief, claim, association, or relationship.
- A refusal to recognize or accept the authority or validity of something.
- The act of renouncing an obligation, agreement, or commitment.
"The committee issued a formal statement repudiating allegations that the organization had misused its funds."
"The politician’s repudiation of the earlier agreement drew criticism from both supporters and opponents."
"The statement was intended as a definitive repudiation of the organization’s former leadership."
The plural is grammatically regular but less common than the singular; repudiations usually refers to separate acts or statements of rejection.
"The two repudiations of the agreement appeared to contradict the government’s earlier statements."
Repudiation is more than simple disagreement: it is a deliberate public act of setting aside a claim, association, or commitment.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does repudiation come from?
Repudiation comes through Latin, from repudiare, meaning to reject or disavow. The noun entered English in the period of Middle English and was also influenced by Old French. Its related forms, including repudiate, preserve the same Latin root.
Related word forms
How repudiation is actually used
Repudiation is a formal word, especially common in political, legal, and diplomatic contexts. It implies a definite rejection rather than mild disagreement or uncertainty.
Easily confused with repudiation
Repudiation is the noun naming the act of rejecting or disavowing something, while repudiate is the verb used to express that action.