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 of repudiation

• 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

The 78-0 vote marked a stunning repudiation of Peña by lawmakers from his long-ruling Colorado Party, who joined the opposition in backing his impeachment after three days of demonstrations rocked the capital, Asunción. — Isabel Debre, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026

This is a repudiation of the president and of the administration. — Vogue Business, Vogue, 5 Nov. 2026

What resulted was a midterm repudiation of Republicans that, as election night wore on, some in the White House were unwilling to own. — Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 4 Nov. 2026

In a stunning and swift repudiation of the federal government’s agenda on the economy and trade over the past 22 months, Tuesday’s midterm voters co-signed a Democratic stampede into the halls of Congress in January. — Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 4 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1530, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for repudiation

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

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.