Synonyms

disown

American

[dis-ohn] / dɪsˈoʊn /

verb (used with object)

to refuse to acknowledge as belonging or pertaining to oneself; deny the ownership of or responsibility for; repudiate; renounce.

to disown one's heirs; to disown a published statement.

Synonyms:

abjure, reject, disavow, disclaim

disown British

/ dɪsˈəʊn /

verb

(tr) to deny any connection with; refuse to acknowledge

"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

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of disown

First recorded in 1610–20; dis- ¹ + own

Explanation

To disown someone is to reject them. If you disown your brother, you refuse to have anything to do with him: not only do you not speak or have contact, but it's as if he's no longer related to you. When one person disowns another, it's because of some terrible argument or deep-rooted conflict. Although it's uncommon to disown another person, when it happens it's usually a family member who's cast off. Your mom might threaten to disown you after you drive her car into the mailbox, but she's probably not serious. Disown takes the root word own, meaning "to have or to hold," and adds the Latin prefix dis, "not" or "do the opposite of."

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Disown him as many nonconformists did, they could not disinherit him.

From Herbert Spencer by Thomson, J. Arthur (John Arthur)

So shocking, they who wish, disown it too; Disown from shame what they from folly crave.

From Young's Night Thoughts With Life, Critical Dissertation and Explanatory Notes by Young, Edward

Disown, diz-ōn′, v.t. to refuse to own or acknowledge as belonging to one's self: to deny: to repudiate, cast off—n.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) by Various

"Disown" it as he might, his words were past recall, and both indictments stand in his name.

From Byron's Poetical Works, Volume 1 by Coleridge, Ernest Hartley

"Disown it, if you please," said Mr. Leavenworth sternly, "but finish it first!"

From Roderick Hudson by James, Henry

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023