repudiate

/rɪˈpjuːdi.eɪt/
to reject or refuse to accept

The company repudiated the contract, claiming it was signed under duress.

The company refused to accept the contract, arguing it was signed under pressure.


Law
formal

To reject or refuse to accept something, especially a claim, contract, or responsibility.

The court ruled that the debtor could repudiate the debt if it was incurred fraudulently.

The court decided that the debtor could refuse to accept the debt if it was obtained through fraud.

She repudiated the allegations made against her in the media.

She denied the accusations made against her in the media.

In legal contexts, repudiation often involves formal rejection of a contract or obligation.

formal

To disown or reject someone or something, often publicly.

The politician repudiated his former allies after the scandal.

The politician publicly distanced himself from his former allies following the scandal.

Collocations

repudiate a contractto formally reject a contractrepudiate a claimto deny a legal or financial claimrepudiate responsibilityto refuse to accept blame or duty

Pro Tip

Formal Usage

Use 'repudiate' in formal or legal contexts, such as contracts or official statements.

Gold Rule

Legal Context

In law, repudiation can have significant consequences, such as terminating a contract.

Word Origin

From Latin 'repudiāre', meaning 'to reject', from 're-' (back) + 'pudere' (to be ashamed of).

Usage Notes

Often used in legal or formal contexts to describe the rejection of obligations, claims, or associations.

Word Breakdown

re-
back
prefix
+
-pudi-
to be ashamed of
root
+
-ate
to make or cause
suffix
English Dictionary