disavowal

[dis-uh-vou-uhl]

noun

1. a disowning; repudiation; denial.

Word History and Origins

Origin of disavowal¹

First recorded in 1740–50; disavow + -al ²

Example Sentences

Hester shares childhood memories of her father’s terror and neglect, and her resulting disavowal of her past: “I wanted to believe I had no family at all, like I’d sprung from the earth fully formed.”

From Los Angeles Times

It called on the BBC to "reject attempts to have the documentary permanently removed or subjected to undue disavowals".

From BBC

Notwithstanding Eastman’s disavowal of racist intent, one can’t attribute the same innocence to Trump and his immigration policy team.

From Los Angeles Times

Historical amnesia has always provided a cover for America’s long-standing racism, nativism, disavowal of women’s right.

From Salon

For Trump’s critics, his selections make it clear that his disavowal of the conservative playbook was nothing more than a campaign ploy to pacify voters who viewed the plan as too far to the right.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ban 
• defiance 
• exclusion 
• noncompliance 
• rejection 
• reversal 
• veto