reject

[ verb ri-jekt; noun ree-jekt ]

verb (used with object)

1. to refuse to have, take, recognize, etc.:

   to reject the offer of a better job.

   Synonyms: deny

2. to refuse to grant (a request, demand, etc.).

   Synonyms: deny

3. to refuse to accept (someone or something); rebuff:

   The other children rejected him. The publisher rejected the author's latest novel.

   Synonyms: renounce, repel

4. to discard as useless or unsatisfactory:

   The mind rejects painful memories.

   Synonyms: jettison, eliminate

5. to cast out or eject; vomit.
6. to cast out or off.
7. Medicine/Medical. (of a human or other animal) to have an immunological reaction against (a transplanted organ or grafted tissue):

   If tissue types are not matched properly, a patient undergoing a transplant will reject the graft.

noun

1. something rejected, as an imperfect article.

   Synonyms: second

reject

verb

1. to refuse to accept, acknowledge, use, believe, etc
2. to throw out as useless or worthless; discard
3. to rebuff (a person)
4. (of an organism) to fail to accept (a foreign tissue graft or organ transplant) because of immunological incompatibility

noun

1. something rejected as imperfect, unsatisfactory, or useless

Derived Forms

• reˈjective, adjective
• reˈjection, noun
• reˈjectable, adjective
• reˈjecter, noun

Other Words From

• re·jecta·ble adjective
• re·jecter noun
• re·jective adjective
• prere·ject verb (used with object)
• quasi-re·jected adjective
• unre·jecta·ble adjective
• unre·jected adjective
• unre·jective adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of reject¹

First recorded in 1485–95; (verb) from Latin rējectus, past participle of rējicere “to throw back,” equivalent to re- re- + jec-, combining form of jacere “to throw” + -tus past participle suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of reject¹

C15: from Latin rēicere to throw back, from re- + jacere to hurl

Synonym Study

See refuse ¹.

Example Sentences

Elphaba, in contrast, is a naturally talented sorceress whose green skin led her father to reject her from the moment she was born.

From Salon

The special counsel overseeing both cases, David Weiss, has flatly rejected claims that the younger Biden was singled out because of his family background.

From BBC

But a federal judge last Monday rejected the lawsuit, and a day later, another judge rejected Slusser’s appeal.

From Los Angeles Times

At the time, Kroger’s legal team rejected claims that the correspondence constitutes unlawful agreement.

From Salon

More than 100 EU lawmakers called on Oslo to reject the project, citing the risk "to marine biodiversity and the acceleration of climate change".

From BBC

Related Words

• deny
• dismiss
• rebuff
• refuse
• renounce
• repudiate
• scrap
• spurn
• turn down
• veto