denial
n. C / Un. a refusal to accept that something is true or real. It can also mean saying 'no' to a request or a right.
n. the refusal to admit the truth or reality of a statement or situation; also the act of refusing to grant something requested. Often used in psychological contexts to describe a defense mechanism against painful facts.
He is in denial about his health problems.
The government issued a formal denial regarding the rumors of a secret trade agreement with the neighboring country.
Psychologists often observe that denial serves as a temporary buffer against overwhelming grief, allowing the individual to process traumatic information at a manageable pace rather than all at once.
From deny + -al.
Often follows the preposition 'in' when describing a mental state, or 'of' when referring to the rejection of a specific fact or right.
his denial about the crimehis denial of the crimeWhen 'denial' refers to a specific act or statement, it is followed by 'of' rather than 'about'.