DEFINITIONS

refute

[ ri-fyoot ]
/ rɪˈfyut /
||
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR refute ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), re·fut·ed, re·fut·ing.

to prove to be false or erroneous, as an opinion or charge.
to prove (a person) to be in error.

Content related to refute

Made-up Words Said By The People In ChargeConsidering our PICs (people-in-charge) have a knack for creating their own vocabulary, especially when they are put on the spot, here's a list of the most creative "made-up words" said by leadership. Hey, we voted 'em in . . . now they can say what they want.
READ MORE

Words related to refute

repudiate, contradict, expose, counter, quash, oppose, disprove, squelch, rebut, invalidate, negate, cancel, debate, contend, top, crush, overthrow, convict, dispute, contravene

Words nearby refute

refuse, refusenik, refusion, refutation, refutative, refute, reg, reg., reg. prof., regain, regal

Origin of refute

1505–15; < Latin refūtāre “to check, suppress, refute, rebut,” equivalent to re- re- + -fūtāre presumably, “to beat” (attested only with the prefixes con- and re-; cf. confute)

OTHER WORDS FROM refute

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH refute

deny disapprove disprove rebut refutedispute refuterefudiate refute repudiate (see word story at refudiate)
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for refute

British Dictionary definitions for refute

refute
/ (rɪˈfjuːt) /

verb

(tr) to prove (a statement, theory, charge, etc) of (a person) to be false or incorrect; disprove
to deny (a claim, charge, allegation, etc)

Derived forms of refute

refutable (ˈrɛfjʊtəbəl, rɪˈfjuː-), adjectiverefutability (ˌrɛfjʊtəˈbɪlɪtɪ, rɪˌfjuː-), nounrefutably, adverbrefuter, noun

Word Origin for refute

C16: from Latin refūtāre to rebut

usage for refute

The use of refute to mean deny is thought by many people to be incorrect
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