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

If the human vanishes at the moment of execution, then fraud, repudiation, and abuse all become easier to scale. — Raj Ananthanpillai, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026

The results on Amendment 4 and Amendment 5 marked a stunning repudiation of Republican policy in a state that overwhelmingly elects Republican lawmakers. — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 5 Aug. 2026

Pence’s Advancing American Freedom organization is a repudiation of Trumpism and a call to return to traditional conservative values. — Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 20 July 2026

And ironically, in a direct repudiation of Faldo's complaints, the data shows that DeChambeau's actually been at this best off the tee in recent Open Championships. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 16 July 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.