renege

[ ri-nig, -neg, -neeg ]

verb (used without object)

, re·neged, re·neg·ing.

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)

, re·neged, re·neg·ing.

1. Archaic. to deny; disown; renounce.

noun

1. Cards. an act or instance of reneging.

renege

/ rɪˈniːɡ; -ˈneɪɡ /

verb

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

verb

1. See revoke
   cards other words for revoke

Derived Forms

• reˈneger, noun

Other Words From

• re·neger 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

Dubowitz, however, says he is concerned Moscow could renege on its promise not to sell Iran the S-300.

From The Daily Beast

Will Syria collapse or Egypt renege on the Camp David Accords?

From The Daily Beast

Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger convinced Reagan to renege on his support for these cuts, so they never happened.

From The Daily Beast

I treated them two or three times and never once did they renege.

From Project Gutenberg

The manager was afraid that I would renege on my contract after all the free advertising, but he didn't know me.

From Project Gutenberg

It occurred to him that he could agree now to join forces with Charles, then go back to Gobignon and renege on his promise.

From Project Gutenberg

"You've never seen the day when you wanted to renege, Upton, and you know it," he hit back.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• back out
• default on
• go back
• go back on one's word
• pull out
• retract
• reverse