refutation

[ref-yoo-tey-shuh n]

See more synonyms for refutation on Thesaurus.com

noun

an act of refuting a statement, charge, etc.; disproof.

Also re·fut·al

[ri-fyoot-l] /rɪˈfyut l/.

Origin of refutation

1540–50; < Latin refūtātiōn- (stem of refūtātiō), equivalent to refūtāt(us) (past participle of refūtāre to refute; see -ate¹) + -iōn- -ion

Related formsnon·re·fut·al, nounnon·ref·u·ta·tion, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for refutation

Contemporary Examples

Which is not exactly a refutation or a denial so much as a talking point aimed at giving political partisans something to say.
Jack Lew and the Obama Administration’s Finance-Friendly Status Quo
Lloyd Green
February 19, 2013
Charlus' physical bravery is Proust's refutation of an ancient antigay stereotype.
David's Bookclub: Sodom and Gomorrah
David Frum
September 29, 2012
Step Five: For each answer formulates new searches to find evidence in support or refutation of answer—score the evidence.
Behind the Scenes With the Team That Built Jeopardy's Watson
The Daily Beast
February 23, 2011

Historical Examples

He could assert now, without fear of refutation, that Stryker had lied.
The Black Bag
Louis Joseph Vance
What should be the climax of a triumphant argument becomes its refutation.
Shelley, Godwin and Their Circle
H. N. Brailsford
For now, as always, I am unequal to the refutation of not-being.
Sophist
Plato
The conclusion at which we must arrive is that the Parmenides is not a refutation of the Eleatic philosophy.
Parmenides
Plato
How then, without a word of explanation, could Plato assign to them the refutation of their own tenets?
Parmenides
Plato

British Dictionary definitions for refutation

refutation

noun

the act or process of refuting
something that refutes; disproof

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for refutation

n.

1540s, from Middle French réfutation (16c.) and directly from Latin refutationem (nominative refutatio) "disproof of a claim or argument," noun of action from past participle stem of refutare (see refute).

refutation

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}refutation

Examples from the Web for refutation

Contemporary Examples

Which is not exactly a refutation or a denial so much as a talking point aimed at giving political partisans something to say.

Charlus' physical bravery is Proust's refutation of an ancient antigay stereotype.

Step Five: For each answer formulates new searches to find evidence in support or refutation of answer—score the evidence.

Historical Examples

He could assert now, without fear of refutation, that Stryker had lied.

What should be the climax of a triumphant argument becomes its refutation.

For now, as always, I am unequal to the refutation of not-being.

The conclusion at which we must arrive is that the Parmenides is not a refutation of the Eleatic philosophy.

How then, without a word of explanation, could Plato assign to them the refutation of their own tenets?

refutation

Word Origin and History for refutation

n.

Origin of refutation