rejection

American  

[ri-jek-shuhn] / rɪˈdʒɛk ʃən /

noun

1. the act or process of rejecting.

   Synonyms:

   elimination, dismissal, refusal

2. the state of being rejected.

   Synonyms:

   elimination, dismissal, refusal

3. something that is rejected.

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rejection Cultural  

1. A process in which the immune system of a body attacks an organ or tissue, either its own or tissue transplanted into it from another organism. (See xenotransplantation.)

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Discover More

Rejection is the most serious problem faced in surgery involving organ transplants. Drugs are used to suppress the immune system after organ transplant in order to prevent the rejection of and eventual death of the transplanted tissue.

Other Word Forms

• nonrejection noun
• prerejection noun

Etymology

Origin of rejection

First recorded in 1545–55; from Latin rējectiōn-, stem of rējectiō “a throwing back”; equivalent to reject + -ion

Example Sentences

Reasons given for its rejection included that being a replication it was not novel; that after a couple of years the field has moved on.

From Science Daily • Mar. 29, 2026

He was going to wait until his friends left to check the email for fear of rejection.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026

Despite Coogler’s rejection of the evening’s fundamental premise, the crowd rose to its feet when “Sinners” won its four awards for score, cinematography, original screenplay and lead actor.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 16, 2026

Sydnexis is appealing the FDA rejection through the agency’s administrative process with the hope that agency leaders will take a less shortsighted view.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026

Mom pockets the cash again, looking abashed at Andre’s rejection, and I foolishly feel a sliver of hope that she’s beginning to understand our situation.

From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller

Related Words

• elimination
• exclusion
• repudiation
• veto