refute
Americanverb
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(tr) to prove (a statement, theory, charge, etc) of (a person) to be false or incorrect; disprove
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to deny (a claim, charge, allegation, etc)
Usage
The use of refute to mean deny is thought by many people to be incorrect
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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refutabilitynoun
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refutablyadverb
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self-refutingadjective
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unrefutedadjective
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refutableadjective
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unrefutingadjective
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refuternoun
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self-refutedadjective
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have refutedperfect
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has refutedperfect 3rd person singular
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are refutingprogressive
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has been refutingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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have been refutingperfect progressive
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refutingparticiple
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is refutingprogressive 3rd person singular
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refutessingular 3rd person
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am refutingprogressive 1st person singular
Past
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had refutedperfect
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were refutingprogressive plural
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had been refutingperfect progressive
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refutedparticiple
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refutedsimple
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was refutingprogressive singular
Future
Etymology
Origin of refute
First recorded in 1505–15; from Latin refūtāre “to check, suppress, refute, rebut,” equivalent to re- re- + -fūtāre presumably, “to beat” (attested only with the prefixes con- and re-; cf. confute)
Explanation
The verb refute is to prove that something is wrong. When the kids you're babysitting swear they brushed their teeth, you can refute their claim by presenting the dry toothbrushes. Evidence and arguments are used to refute something. So are facts. For example, if children who eat chocolate before going to bed go straight to sleep, that refutes the idea that sugar keeps them up. Refute comes from the Latin refutare for "to check, suppress." A near synonym is confute, but save refute as an everyday word for proving something is false.
Vocabulary lists containing refute
The SAT: Language of the Test, List 3
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The ACT: The Language of the Test, List 2
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Grade 9, List 3
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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.
Refute A strong verb, meaning “to disprove, to demonstrate falsehood”.
From The Guardian • Jun. 5, 2017
Still, from memory's urn, The lingering blossoms tenderly Refute our wilding minstrelsy.
From The Book of American Negro Poetry by Johnson, James Weldon
Refute is not now applied to persons, but confute is in good use in this application; a person is confuted when his arguments are refuted.
From English Synonyms and Antonyms With Notes on the Correct Use of Prepositions by Fernald, James Champlin
Refute applies either to arguments and opinions or to accusations; confute is not applied to accusations and charges, but to arguments or opinions.
From English Synonyms and Antonyms With Notes on the Correct Use of Prepositions by Fernald, James Champlin
Refute, rē-fūt′, v.t. to repel: to oppose: to disprove.—n.
From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R) by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
