disavow

[ dis-uh-vou ]
See synonyms for disavow on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object)
  1. to disclaim knowledge of, connection with, or responsibility for; disown; repudiate: He disavowed the remark that had been attributed to him.

Origin of disavow

1
1350–1400; Middle English disavouen, desavouen<Anglo-French, Old French desavouer.See dis-1, avow

Other words for disavow

Other words from disavow

  • dis·a·vow·ed·ly, adverb
  • dis·a·vow·er, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use disavow in a sentence

  • But what liberty can he invoke—he who has disavowed and injured all liberties?

    The Arena | Various
  • The charge was a long time dying, but it is to-day generally disavowed.

    South American Fights and Fighters | Cyrus Townsend Brady
  • Camilla disavowed all claim to such praise, blushing both for her friend and herself at what was said.

    Camilla | Fanny Burney
  • It mattered not that Spain's highest official, the governor, disavowed the act, the fire was in the stubble.

    The Life of Napoleon Bonaparte | William Milligan Sloane
  • Both the governor and the Spanish envoy at Washington disavowed the act again and rebuked the subordinate.

    The Life of Napoleon Bonaparte | William Milligan Sloane

British Dictionary definitions for disavow

disavow

/ (ˌdɪsəˈvaʊ) /


verb
  1. (tr) to deny knowledge of, connection with, or responsibility for

Derived forms of disavow

  • disavowal, noun
  • disavowedly, adverb
  • disavower, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012