deniability

noun

de·​ni·​abil·​i·​ty dē-ˌnī-ə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

: the ability to deny something especially on the basis of being officially uninformed

Examples of deniability in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

With that employment of the singer’s favorite number in the new ad campaign, any deniability would no longer be very plausible. — Chris Willman, Variety, 29 May 2026

There is plausible deniability here because celebrating looks a lot like crowd work at this level, but the question does need asking. — Jack Lang, New York Times, 9 June 2026

The large-scale return of the supposedly canceled can’t be blamed on collective amnesia, or even a public that clings to plausible deniability. — Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 26 Apr. 2026

Although many Democrats—including some administration staffers—claimed that the extent of Joe’s frailty was invisible to or hidden from them, his wife had no such deniability. — David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 8 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1973, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for deniability

• affability
• audibility
• bistability
• capability
• changeability
• contractility
• credibility
• culpability
• disability
• disutility
• durability
• fallibility