deniability

[ dih-nahy-uh-bil-uh-tee ]

/ dɪˌnaɪ əˈbɪl ə ti /

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noun

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

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of deniability

First recorded in 1970–75; deniable + -ity

Words nearby deniability

Deng Xiaoping, Den Haag, Denham, Den Helder, deni, deniability, deniable, denial, denialism, denialist, denial-of-service

How to use deniability in a sentence

One business hires another business, and the separation shields the former from liability, providing plausible deniability.
Wage Theft Is Common for Low-Level Workers, and Officials Are Starting to Take Notice|Jesse Marx and Maya Srikrishnan|May 19, 2021|Voice of San Diego
That comports with the warnings by advocates, who have long called voluntary inspections merely a box-ticking exercise designed to give brands deniability if problems later emerge.
Exclusive: Workers in Factory That Makes Kate Hudson's Fabletics Activewear Allege Rampant Sexual and Physical Abuse|Refiloe Makhaba Nkune|May 5, 2021|Time
There’s a premium on saying things that are technically true — or at least carry plausible deniability — even if they’re misleading.
Fundraising appeals are a plague on our politics. Here’s why you should care.|Aaron Blake|April 8, 2021|Washington Post
There’s almost some plausible deniability at play, to a certain extent.
‘Walk the walk of your corporate values’: Confessions of a digital agency exec on lost leverage in its client relationship due to Covid|Kristina Monllos|March 12, 2021|Digiday

Their lips meet, and they push past the point of deniability.
What floor?|Sophia Nguyen|February 12, 2021|Washington Post
Even when plausible deniability crumbles, the brainwashed paste it back together again.
This 1979 Novel Predicted Putin’s Invasion Of Crimea|Michael Weiss|May 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In one sense, Walt is providing Skyler with plausible deniability here.
Latest ‘Breaking Bad’ Episode, ‘Ozymandias,’ Is Most Action-Packed Yet|Andrew Romano|September 16, 2013|DAILY BEAST
In the previous episodes involving SAC employees or former SAC employees, Cohen had plausible deniability.
The Insider-Trading Cloud Hanging Over SAC Capital’s Steven A. Cohen|Daniel Gross|November 27, 2012|DAILY BEAST
These things were usually perpetrated with plenty of plausible deniability.
The New Jim Crow|Michael Tomasky|November 5, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The Brits learned this from the Swiss, who were the original masters of plausible deniability.
Where Dictators Hide Their Money|Jeffrey Robinson|August 26, 2011|DAILY BEAST