repudiation

noun

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

Synonyms

• denial
• rejection

Examples of repudiation in a Sentence

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

Gelsinger’s departure late last year was widely seen as a repudiation by the company of his complex turnaround plan, which included trying to rebuild Intel’s manufacturing base. —ArsTechnica, 27 Mar. 2025

Thus, Airman Bushnell had reasonable cause to object to participation in the crime and substantial moral grounds for his repudiation of his nation’s descent into primitive barbarism. —Kary Love, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025

Protesters have embraced the flag as a symbol of cultural pride and a repudiation of anti-immigrant policies against the backdrop of National Guard and Marines deployed to the city by President Donald Trump. —Stephen J. Beard, USA Today, 15 June 2025

The ruling marked a rare and sweeping judicial repudiation of the administration’s unprecedented use of military personnel to support deportation operations amid immigration protests in the south state. —Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 13 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1530, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for repudiation

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration

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.