repudiation

1 of 2

noun (1)

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

repudiationist

2 of 2

noun (2)

re·​pu·​di·​a·​tion·​ist -sh(ə)nə̇st 

plural -s

: one that favors repudiation especially of a public debt

Synonyms of repudiation

Noun (1)

• denial
• rejection

Examples of repudiation in a Sentence

Noun (1)

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

Noun

After an often shaky start to his tenure leading the USMNT, the performance against Paraguay was a complete repudiation of his critics and validation of his tactics and managerial style. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 17 June 2026

His is a playground repertoire, a rolling repudiation of the safe option. — New York Times, 10 June 2026

What's behind all this vacation repudiation? — Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 2 June 2026

The results were widely interpreted as a repudiation of Labour's performance to date by British voters. — David Brennan, ABC News, 12 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun (1)

circa 1530, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for repudiation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

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.