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

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 notes

In plain EnglishTo publicly reject or deny that you support something, often to distance yourself from it.

Common pairings

publicly disavow disavow responsibility

Word forms

disavowed past tense, disavows singular

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The senator _____ the extremist group's endorsement.

Etymology

From dis- + avow, or from Old French desavouer.

Origin: Old French

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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