renege

American  

[ri-nig, -neg, -neeg] / rɪˈnɪg, -ˈnɛg, -ˈnig /

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.

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verb (used with object)

reneged, reneging

1. Archaic. to deny; disown; renounce.

noun

1. Cards. an act or instance of reneging.

renege British  

/ -ˈneɪɡ, rɪˈniːɡ /

verb

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

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verb

1. cards other words for revoke

Other Word Forms

• reneger noun

Etymology

Origin of renege

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

Example Sentences

Simon unleashed a tirade at Coach executive Todd Kahn during their first meeting in the first decade of the 2000s, after the handbag maker tried to renege on deals to open stores in Simon malls.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

But regulators say some companies renege on their commitments.

From Barron's • Jan. 29, 2026

But the optimism deflated significantly in recent weeks, as questions arose about whether Oracle’s customers could renege on these contracts and leave it holding the bag for billions in underutilized infrastructure.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 9, 2025

Little did she know that what she really had to worry about was that her friend would renege not only on the loan but on their friendship.

From Slate • Mar. 23, 2025

The government had already informed the foreign press that I was to be set free tomorrow and felt they could not renege on that statement.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

Related Words

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