renege
Americanverb (used without object)
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Cards. to play a card that is not of the suit led when one can follow suit; break a rule of play.
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to go back on one's word.
He has reneged on his promise.
verb (used with object)
noun
verb
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of renege
1540–50; earlier renegue < Medieval Latin renegāre, equivalent to re- re- + negāre to deny ( cf. negative)
Explanation
To renege is to go back on your word or fail to keep a promise. Not quite lying, reneging is more a sin of omission — failing to do what you said you would. The Latin negāre means "to deny," so by reneging on your word, you are denying someone whatever you promised them. In card games, you are said to renege if you play against the rules. To renege may be wrong, but it's not necessarily a punishable offense (unless you put that promise legally binding in writing). Still, it certainly doesn't make you look good!
Vocabulary lists containing renege
Spinnin' Around
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Beowulf
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
To reach a compromise with member states, parliament is under pressure to renege on several amendments it added to the text in March which the Americans consider unacceptable.
From Barron's • May 19, 2026
“If they renege on their promises,” he added, “they will face dire consequences.”
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026
Watson claims the PGA Tour has "made a decision to renege" on what they promised to those who stayed loyal.
From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026
Now she can renege on a promise to air a revised version on CBS.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 26, 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
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
