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deniability

American

[dih-nahy-uh-bil-uh-tee] / dɪˌnaɪ əˈbɪl ə ti /

noun

the ability to deny something, as knowledge of or connection with an illegal activity.

Etymology

Origin of deniability

First recorded in 1970–75; deniable + -ity

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.

See Examples For:

deniability

He noted that such a tactic offers bad actors plausible deniability.

From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026

Cady turns their lives into a trap of paranoia and, indeed, fear, while procuring plausible deniability to avoid consequences.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2026

Separately, the emails your brother and/or her lawyer sent you could give them plausible deniability.

From MarketWatch ● Feb. 2, 2026

These tools offer Beijing flexibility and deniability while adding volatility that can make crises worse.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 30, 2025

But the president had one valuable asset: deniability.

From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin

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