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

One other reason may be plausible deniability, he added.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2026

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

From MarketWatch ● Feb. 2, 2026

Normally, such an operation would allow for public deniability while sending a message to Maduro that more strikes can come at any place or time, he said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 30, 2025

Some have suggested this was a brilliant maneuver, giving himself some degree of plausible deniability.

From Salon ● May 8, 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