rebut

verb re·but \ ri-ˈbət \

Updated on: 25 May 2018

Definition of rebut

rebutted; rebutting

transitive verb

1 : to drive or beat back : repel

2 a : to contradict or oppose by formal legal argument, plea, or countervailing proof

b : to expose the falsity of : refute

intransitive verb

: to make or furnish an answer or counter proof

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rebuttable

play \ri-ˈbə-tə-bəl\ adjective

See rebut defined for English-language learners

See rebut defined for kids

Examples of rebut in a Sentence

Her lawyer attempted to rebut the witness's testimony.
Stalingrad's defenders were finally able to rebut the besiegers, but only after a horrendous loss of life.

Recent Examples of rebut from the Web

That was one of a number of lines of argument featured in a pre-trial brief filed late Friday, and immediately rebutted by AT&T-Time Warner in its own filing.

— NBC News, "Justice Department, AT&T-Time Warner outline strategies in pre-trial briefs," 9 Mar. 2018
Now Trump is deciding whether to allow the release of a Democratic memo that rebuts accusations in the Nunes memo.

— margaret hartmann, Daily Intelligencer, "Trey Gowdy: Democrats May Be Tricking Trump Into Hiding Parts of Their Memo," 7 Feb. 2018
After the heated exchanged between Van Lathan and West went viral, many history experts started rebutting West's claims.

— caitlin o'kane, CBS News, "Historians respond to Kanye West's controversial comments about slavery," 2 May 2018
Alas, the movie is a hopeless muddle of conflicting messages that frequently upholds the very stereotypes it is intended to rebut.

— christopher orr, The Atlantic, "I Feel Pretty Is a Message Movie That Can't Stay on Message," 20 Apr. 2018
On Friday, Phillips said he had earlier been removed from the case and is now unable to rebut the allegations before Fiorini.

— darrell smith, sacbee, "DA candidate accused of 'secret deal' with murder defendant for lighter sentence," 20 Apr. 2018
Last month, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders rebutted reports that Mr. Trump was poised to oust his national security adviser, Lt.

— ian talley, WSJ, "U.S. Holds Back on New Russia Sanctions, After Mixed Signals," 17 Apr. 2018
The top Democrat on the Intelligence panel, Rep. Adam Schiff (D) of California, drew up his own lengthy paper meant to rebut the chairman’s charges.

— peter grier, The Christian Science Monitor, "The perennial presidential urge to bring FBI 'under control'," 29 Mar. 2018
Some courts have even held that where the government uses a taint team, the government bears the burden to rebut the presumption that tainted material was improperly provided to the prosecution.

— NBC News, "For Trump and Cohen, attorney-client privilege goes only so far," 10 Apr. 2018

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

Did You Know?

The -but in rebut once meant basically "butt", so rebut's original meanings were "to drive or beat back" and "to attack with violent language". Rebuttals can still be rather violent, as anyone who has watched some heated moments in a presidential debate can testify. The word is often used by lawyers, since the lawyer for the accused or for the party being sued almost always tries to rebut the charges against his or her client; but it's also used in plenty of contexts outside the courtroom.

Origin and Etymology of rebut

Middle English, from Anglo-French reboter, from re- + boter to butt — more at butt

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

rebut Synonyms

Phrases

give the lie to;

REBUT Defined for English Language Learners

rebut

verb

Definition of rebut for English Language Learners

: to prove (something) is false by using arguments or evidence

REBUT Defined for Kids

rebut

verb re·but \ ri-ˈbət \

Definition of rebut for Students

rebutted; rebutting

: to prove to be wrong by argument or by proof

Law Dictionary

rebut

transitive verb re·but \ ri-ˈbət \

legal Definition of rebut

rebutted; rebutting

: to refute, counteract, or disprove (as opposing evidence) by evidence or argument

rebut damaging testimony

rebut a presumption

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rebuttable

adjective

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rebuttably

adverb

Origin and Etymology of rebut

Anglo-French reboter rebuter to answer a charge, bar from an action, literally, to repulse, rebuff, from Old French reboter, from re- back + boter to push, butt