refutation

noun

ref·​u·​ta·​tion ˌre-fyu̇-ˈtā-shən 

: the act or process of refuting

Synonyms of refutation

• rebuttal
• disproof

Examples of refutation in a Sentence

these are hard scientific facts against which there can be no reasonable refutation

Recent Examples on the Web

The images were a refutation—and a response to her husband, who believed the reports and threatened to take their son, Georgio. —Anika Burgess, New Yorker, 7 Mar. 2026

The death of New START represents the refutation of those decades of work. —Matthew Gault, Wired News, 9 Feb. 2026

However, some legal experts and investors are anticipating a partial or full refutation of the president’s IEEPA tariffs, as the justices showed skepticism during arguments about the president’s authority to levy such taxes without Congressional approval. —Jake Angelo, Fortune, 8 Jan. 2026

Indian investment behavior, Rustomjee argues, is a living refutation of the efficient market hypothesis, or the idea that stock prices faithfully reflect all available information about the underlying asset. —Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1536, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for refutation

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

Kids Definition

refutation

noun

ref·​u·​ta·​tion ˌref-yu̇-ˈtā-shən 

: the act or process of refuting : disproof