# abjured

CEFR C2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/abjured
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

to officially give up a belief, a habit, or a way of life. You use this when someone makes a formal or public promise to stop doing something.

For teachers: to formally renounce or reject a belief, practice, or status. Often used in legal or religious contexts to describe a public declaration of abandonment.

## Examples

- The former leader abjured his political career after the scandal.
- The knight abjured his former allegiance to the king and swore loyalty to the new queen.
- Having spent decades in the priesthood, he eventually abjured his vows and returned to a secular life, seeking a simpler existence away from the cathedral.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.