denial
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
a statement saying that something is not true or that you did not do something.
an assertion that an allegation or statement is untrue; a formal disavowal of responsibility or participation.
Simple“The politician issued a firm denial of the rumors about his private life.”
In context“Despite the overwhelming evidence presented by the prosecution, the defendant maintained a flat denial of all charges throughout the trial.”
UsageOften followed by the preposition 'of' or a 'that' clause.
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
a refusal to give someone something they have asked for, such as a permit or a loan.
the act of refusing to grant or provide something requested or desired.
Simple“The bank's denial of her loan application was a major setback for her business.”
In context“The repeated denial of basic human rights in the region led to widespread international condemnation and economic sanctions.”
UsageCommonly used in administrative or legal contexts regarding applications and rights.
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
a state of mind where you refuse to believe that something unpleasant or painful is true.
a psychological defense mechanism in which a person rejects the validity of an experience or reality to avoid emotional distress.
Simple“He is in denial about his health problems and refuses to see a doctor.”
In context“Climate change denial remains a significant hurdle for policymakers attempting to implement long-term environmental strategies.”
UsageFrequently appears in the idiomatic phrase 'in denial'.
Teacher's tipWhen used in the phrase 'in denial', it describes a person's mental state rather than a specific spoken statement.
SynonymsunawarenessrejectionAntonyms - 04 C1 Advanced
the act of saying 'no' to a statement in logic or math.
the operator or function that reverses the truth value of a proposition.
Simple“In this logic puzzle, the denial of the first statement proves the second one is true.”
In context“The proof relies on the formal denial of the antecedent to demonstrate that the subsequent conclusion cannot hold.”
UsageUsed primarily in formal logic and mathematics to describe the relationship between opposing propositions.
SynonymsAntonyms
“His continued denial of the murder showed he is "not a man who will lightly admit when things start to go wrong in his life", she added.”
“As sociologist Eviatar Zerubavel has noted: “Like silence, denial involves active avoidance.”
From deny + -al.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.