repudiation

noun

re·​pu·​di·​a·​tion ri-ˌpyü-dē-ˈā-shən How to pronounce repudiation (audio)
: the act of repudiating : the state of being repudiated
especially : the refusal of public authorities to acknowledge or pay a debt
repudiationist noun

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The decision is a striking repudiation of Apple’s conduct in the Epic Games trial, which was decided in 2021 and appealed in 2023. Kif Leswing, CNBC, 30 Apr. 2025 Trump’s repudiation of renewable-energy technologies stands to make the United States an outlier in the world. David Gelles, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2025 Indeed, in Wisconsin's recent Supreme Court election, the Democrats framed their victory as a repudiation of Musk. Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Apr. 2025 The concern about the bank’s future is heightened as the second Trump administration doubles down on its repudiation of climate projects and promotes an accelerated expansion of U.S. oil and gas projects. Max Bearak, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for repudiation

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1530, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of repudiation was circa 1530

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Cite this Entry

“Repudiation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/repudiation. Accessed 6 May. 2025.

Legal Definition

repudiation

noun
re·​pu·​di·​a·​tion ri-ˌpyü-dē-ˈā-shən How to pronounce repudiation (audio)
: 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.

More from Merriam-Webster on repudiation

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