renege

[ri-nig, -neg, -neeg]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR renege ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), re·neged, re·neg·ing.

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

to go back on one's word: He has reneged on his promise.

verb (used with object), re·neged, re·neg·ing.

Archaic. to deny; disown; renounce.

noun

Cards. an act or instance of reneging.

Origin of renege

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

Related formsre·neg·er, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for renege

default, reverse, welsh

Examples from the Web for renege

Contemporary Examples of renege

Dubowitz, however, says he is concerned Moscow could renege on its promise not to sell Iran the S-300.
Russia’s Ace in the Hole: a Super-Missile It Can Sell to Iran
Eli Lake
April 8, 2014
Will Syria collapse or Egypt renege on the Camp David Accords?
Yair Lapid and the Peace Process
Geoffrey Levin
April 25, 2013
Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger convinced Reagan to renege on his support for these cuts, so they never happened.
Reagan’s Deal With Democrats for Tax Increases Paired With Spending Cuts Is a Myth
John M. Barry
December 5, 2012

Historical Examples of renege

I treated them two or three times and never once did they renege.
Journeys and Experiences in Argentina, Paraguay, and Chile
Henry Stephens
It occurred to him that he could agree now to join forces with Charles, then go back to Gobignon and renege on his promise.
The Saracen: The Holy War
Robert Shea
"You've never seen the day when you wanted to renege, Upton, and you know it," he hit back.
The Wreckers
Francis Lynde

British Dictionary definitions for renege

renege

renegue

verb

(intr often foll by on) to go back (on one's promise, etc)

verb, noun

cards other words for revoke

Derived Formsreneger or reneguer, noun

Word Origin for renege

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

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

Word Origin and History for renege

1540s, "deny, renounce, abandon," from Medieval Latin renegare, from Latin re-, here probably an intensive prefix, + negare "deny" (see deny). Meaning "change one's mind" is from 1784. Related: Reneged; reneging.