noun
-
the act or an instance of refusing
-
the opportunity to reject or accept; option
Other Word Forms
- prerefusal noun
Etymology
Origin of refusal
First recorded in 1425–75, refusal is from the late Middle English word refusell. See refuse 1, -al 2
Explanation
A refusal is when you absolutely won't do something. A little kid's refusal to eat his broccoli might result in his mother's refusal to take him out for ice cream after dinner. When something is refused, or a person refuses to do something, it's a refusal. There's a stubborn quality to the word refusal, like a defiant child who won't be swayed. There is a legal term called the "right of first refusal," which gives a person an opportunity to buy or do something first, before anyone else has a chance, or to refuse the opportunity. The Latin root word is refundere, "pour back or give back."
Vocabulary lists containing refusal
"The First Day of School," Vocabulary from the short story
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Catching Fire
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poems about parents
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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.
For fans, the special is not an apology, it's a reassertion - of his voice and his refusal to be flattened.
From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026
Among the top concerns is Iran’s refusal to fully open the Strait of Hormuz.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026
And it seems to be a continuation of previous posts about the Iran War and the Iranian refusal to comply with his orders to them.
From Salon • Apr. 5, 2026
Statements from Iranian officials and state-linked outlets have left open the possibility that elements of the proposal are still under review, while some reports frame the response as an outright refusal.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026
I don’t know why I’d been surprised by Elliot’s flat-out refusal to help, but somehow his words had still cut.
From "Glitch" by Laura Martin
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.
