disavow
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
Other Word Forms
- disavowal noun
- disavowedly adverb
- disavower noun
Etymology
Origin of disavow
1350–1400; Middle English disavouen, desavouen < Anglo-French, Old French desavouer. See dis- 1, avow
Explanation
To disavow is to deny support for someone or something. You might feel dissed if your biggest donor decides to suddenly disavow you in your run for president. Disavow comes from a combination of the Old French prefix des- meaning "opposite of" and the word avoer meaning to "acknowledge, accept, recognize." When you disavow, you are doing the opposite of acknowledging or accepting. You're rejecting or denying. When you disavow something you've done in the past, you reject or deny what you've done.
Vocabulary lists containing disavow
Change Your Mind
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It's Trevor Noah: Born a Crime
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This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for October 4–October 10, 2025
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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.
Even as his clout has grown, though, Rogan has sought to disavow his authority.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 17, 2026
The two seem to have accepted the theory’s ascendence and would rather apply it fairly than disavow it altogether.
From Slate • Jun. 23, 2025
"I feel the way current management speaks about their titleholders is unprofessional and inappropriate; I disavow workplace toxicity and bullying of any kind."
From Salon • May 9, 2024
But the fitness guru was quick to disavow the film: ‘I have never given my permission for this movie.’
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 20, 2024
The chief expected us to disavow any such absurdities before he could endorse our church.
From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver
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.
