denial

noun de·ni·al \ di-ˈnī(-ə)l , dē- \

Updated on: 10 Apr 2018

Definition of denial

1 : refusal to satisfy a request or desire

the denial of privileges

2 a (1) : refusal to admit the truth or reality of something (such as a statement or charge)

their denial of the divine right of kings

(2) : assertion that an allegation is false

her denial that she was involved

b : refusal to acknowledge a person or a thing : disavowal

his denial of his youngest son

3 law : the opposing by the defendant of an allegation (see allegation 2) of the opposite party in a lawsuit

their denial of the plaintiff's allegations

4 : self-denial

… a man in denial about his receding hairline.
—Playboy

5 logic : negation 1b

6 psychology : a defense mechanism in which confrontation with a personal problem or with reality is avoided by denying the existence of the problem or reality

— in denial

: refusing to admit the truth or reality of something unpleasant

a patient in denial about his health problems

See denial defined for English-language learners

See denial defined for kids

Examples of denial in a Sentence

She issued a flat denial of the charges made against her.
The accusations have met with angry denials from school officials.
The city government has been heavily criticized for its denial of the seriousness of the situation.
The hardest part of the punishment was the denial of his right to see his children.
The group is protesting the denial of voting rights to convicted felons.
The lawyers were disappointed by the court's denial of their motion to dismiss the case.

Recent Examples of denial from the Web

Zuckerberg’s outright denial that Facebook’s business interests play a powerful role in shaping its behavior doesn’t bode well for Facebook’s chances of doing better in the future.

— zeynep tufekci, WIRED, "Why Zuckerberg’s 15-Year Apology Tour Hasn’t Fixed Facebook," 6 Apr. 2018
After swift denials from Knight and the IU administration following Abbott’s initial report, including an unfounded attack on his own credibility, a VHS tape popped up in Abbott’s mailbox.

— zak keefer, Indianapolis Star, "'The Last Days of Knight': How it all ended for IU coach," 5 Apr. 2018
But there is little question that some denials can give rise to constitutional problems.

— adam liptak, New York Times, "Trump v. California: The Biggest Legal Clashes," 5 Apr. 2018
Gateway Foundation, which has 57 facilities across the country, has a team of advocates who appeal coverage denials.

— alexia elejalde-ruiz, chicagotribune.com, "10 years after federal law to protect insurance coverage of mental illness, advocates question if it's working," 5 Apr. 2018
However, Da Silva's denials received a blow in January, when an appeals court upheld the conviction involving the beachfront apartment.

— peter prengaman and mauricio savarese, Fox News, "Prison for Lula? Brazil's top court decides fate of ex-prez," 4 Apr. 2018
Seeing frail elders reminds many older people of what likely lies ahead, and some respond with denial.

— stacey burling, Philly.com, "Old and ageist: Why so many older people have prejudices about their peers - and themselves," 3 Apr. 2018
The chairperson of the first review committee, Elizabeth D’Amico of RAND, declined through a spokesperson to discuss that denial.

— sharon begley, STAT, "NIH rejected a study of alcohol advertising while pursuing industry funding for other research," 2 Apr. 2018
Both sides have ratcheted up sanctions and countersanctions as confrontations over alleged Russian interference in the West, and Russia’s indignant denials, have heated up.

— thomas grove, WSJ, "After Expulsions, Options Dwindle in Russia and West’s ‘Diplomatic War’," 30 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'denial.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of denial

see deny

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First Known Use: 1528

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denial Synonyms

DENIAL Defined for English Language Learners

denial

noun

Definition of denial for English Language Learners

: a statement saying that something is not true or real : a statement in which someone denies something
psychology : a condition in which someone will not admit that something sad, painful, etc., is true or real
: the act of not allowing someone to have something

DENIAL Defined for Kids

denial

noun de·ni·al \ di-ˈnī-əl \

Definition of denial for Students

1 : a refusal to give or agree to something asked for

a denial of the request

2 : a refusal to admit the truth of a statement

a denial of the accusation

3 : a refusal to accept or believe in someone or something He repeated his denial of the existence of ghosts.

4 : a cutting down or limiting

a denial of his appetite

Medical Dictionary

denial

noun de·ni·al \ di-ˈnī(-ə)l \

medical Definition of denial

: a psychological defense mechanism in which confrontation with a personal problem or with reality is avoided by denying the existence of the problem or reality

Law Dictionary

denial

noun de·ni·al \ di-ˈnī-əl \

legal Definition of denial

1 : refusal to grant or allow something

denial of due process

denial of a motion

2 a : an assertion that an allegation is false

b : a defense asserting that an opposing party's allegations are false — compare affirmative defense at defense 2a, traverse

Note: Under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, allegations that are not denied are taken as admitted, and a statement that a party has insufficient knowledge or information to form a belief as to the truth of an allegation is taken as a denial. A denial must sufficiently state which allegations or parts of allegations are being denied.