renege

[ri-nig, -neg, -neeg]

verb (used without object)

reneged, reneging 

1. Cards.,  to play a card that is not of the suit led when one can follow suit; break a rule of play.

2. to go back on one's word.

   He has reneged on his promise.

verb (used with object)

reneged, reneging 

1. Archaic.,  to deny; disown; renounce.

noun

1. Cards.,  an act or instance of reneging.

renege

/ -ˈneɪɡ, rɪˈniːɡ /

verb

1. to go back (on one's promise, etc)

verb

1. cards other words for revoke

Other Word Forms

• reneger noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of renege¹

1540–50; earlier renegue < Medieval Latin renegāre, equivalent to re- re- + negāre to deny ( negative )

Word History and Origins

Origin of renege¹

C16 (in the sense: to deny, renounce): from Medieval Latin renegāre to renounce; see _renegade

Example Sentences

Moller-Maersk and its California-based affiliates reneged on the deal “after not being able to live up to their own sales targets for electric capacity.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"Are you going to renege on filling that hole and fiscal responsibility?" she told the BBC's Today programme.

Read more on BBC

Congress created those visas to ensure immigrant victims would report crimes to law enforcement and be safe, but lawyers for the victims argue the administration has reneged on those promises.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Israel accuses Hamas of reneging on the deal by not returning them quickly enough, but the Palestinian group says it will take time to locate remains buried in Gaza's ruins.

Read more on Barron's

An employer might renege on a job offer; an employee might simply not turn up.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• back out 
• default on www.thesaurus.com
• go back 
• go back on one's word www.thesaurus.com
• pull out 
• retract 
• reverse