verb
disavow
dih-suh-VOW
Disavow (verb) means to formally deny responsibility for or support of something. Example: “The senator disavowed the extremist group's endorsement.”
verb
1
To formally deny responsibility for or support of something.
"The senator disavowed the extremist group's endorsement."
"He publicly disavowed the statements made in his name."
How to use disavow
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo publicly reject or deny that you support something, often to distance yourself from it.
Common pairings
publicly disavow
disavow responsibility
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- disavows
- Past tense
- disavowed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The senator _____ the extremist group's endorsement.
Etymology
From dis- + avow, or from Old French desavouer.
Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “disavow” mean?
The word “disavow” means to formally deny responsibility for or support of something. In plain terms, to publicly reject or deny that you support something, often to distance yourself from it.
How do you pronounce “disavow”?
“Disavow” is pronounced dih-suh-VOW (/dɪsəˈvaʊ/ in IPA).
How do you use “disavow” in a sentence?
Here is “disavow” used in a sentence: “The senator disavowed the extremist group's endorsement.”
What part of speech is “disavow”?
“Disavow” is a verb.
Where does the word “disavow” come from?
The word “disavow” comes from Old French. From dis- + avow, or from Old French desavouer.
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