denunciation
Americannoun
-
an act or instance of denouncing; public censure or condemnation.
-
an accusation of crime before a public prosecutor or tribunal.
-
notice of the termination or the renouncement of an international agreement or part thereof.
-
Archaic. warning of impending evil; threat.
noun
-
open condemnation; censure; denouncing
-
obsolete law a charge or accusation of crime made by an individual before a public prosecutor or tribunal
-
a formal announcement of the termination of a treaty
-
archaic an announcement in the form of an impending threat or warning
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of denunciation
1540–50; < Latin dēnuntiātiōn- (stem of dēnuntiātiō ), equivalent to dēnuntiāt ( us ) ( see denunciate) + -iōn- -ion
Explanation
A denunciation is a public reprimand in which you are told that you've done wrong. If you get caught skipping school, expect denunciation — by teachers, your principal, parents and maybe even your friends. When you harshly criticize someone or something in front of other people, it's a denunciation, like an opinion piece that appears in a newspaper. Sometimes denunciation has the meaning of telling on or exposing someone's misdeeds, like a juicy, book-length denunciation of a famous guitarist written by a former bandmate. The Latin root word is denuntiare, "to announce, proclaim, denounce, or command."
Vocabulary lists containing denunciation
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
John F. Kennedy's Address to the American People on the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Wasn't Me: The Lingo of Laying Blame
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
"Denunciation is the duty of a patriot," someone else writes.
From BBC • Feb. 14, 2023
Denunciation was a commonly used weapon in the bureaucratic power struggles that permeated the Nazi regime.
From New York Times • May 31, 2020
Denunciation was swift — on Twitter, Facebook and blogs.
From New York Times • Jul. 10, 2012
There follow scenes of Denunciation, Reconciliation, Fulfillment, Retribution and Ecstasy�not necessarily in that order.
From Time Magazine Archive
Denunciation by St. Peter of his degenerate successors.—Dante gazes upon the Earth.—Ascent of Beatrice and Dante to the Crystalline Heaven.—Its nature.—Beatrice rebukes the covetousness of mortals.
From Divine Comedy, Norton's Translation, Paradise by Norton, Charles Eliot
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.
