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.

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RELATED WORDS

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

Nearby words

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)

Related forms

Can be confused

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

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

Word Origin for refute

C16: from Latin refūtāre to rebut

usage

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