Word
disavow
Phoneticsdis·avow
US/ˌdɪsəˈvaʊ/
UK/dˌɪsɐvˈaʊ/
Definition
v. to say clearly that you do not support or accept something or someone. You use it when you want to show in public that you have no link to it.
v. to deny responsibility for, support of, or connection to a statement, belief, or person. Typically used for formal public denials in political or organizational contexts.
Examples
“She disavows any link to the false rumour.”
“The company quickly disavowed the manager's comments after customers complained online.”
“Although he once praised the movement, the candidate disavowed its extreme leaders to protect his broader appeal.”
Examples
simple
“She disavows any link to the false rumour.”
contextual
“The company quickly disavowed the manager's comments after customers complained online.”
complex
“Although he once praised the movement, the candidate disavowed its extreme leaders to protect his broader appeal.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “disavow” in context.
Verb
01. disavow extremism
“Moderate leaders must clearly disavow extremism in all its forms.”
verb + noun
02. disavow knowledge
“The director tried to disavow knowledge of the illegal payments.”
verb + noun
03. disavow racism
“The club was quick to disavow racism among its supporters.”
verb + noun
04. disavow responsibility
“You cannot simply disavow responsibility for your own decisions.”
verb + noun
05. disavow violence
“All mainstream parties have agreed to disavow violence as a political tool.”
verb + noun
Adjective
06. categorically disavow
“She categorically disavowed any connection to the extremist group.”
adv + verb
07. explicitly disavow
“The party leader explicitly disavowed racism in a televised statement.”
adv + verb
Noun
08. attempt to disavow
“Her attempt to disavow the policy was seen as insincere.”
noun + to + verb
09. decision to disavow
“His decision to disavow his past statements surprised voters.”
noun + to + verb
10. categorically disavow involvement in
“She categorically disavowed involvement in the fraud scheme.”
11. disavow all ties to
“The movement has disavowed all ties to violent protest groups.”
12. disavow any knowledge of
“He disavowed any knowledge of the secret surveillance programme.”
Usage
The verb is transitive and takes a direct object.
Real-World Examples
“North Korea has ramped up hostility against the South in recent years, disavowing unification as a national goal and calling South Korea its “primary foe”.” “In 2017, Matt Lucas disavowed his sketch series Little Britain (“I wouldn’t make that show now.” “Within hours, the Pakistani Taliban and another group, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, released statements denouncing the attack and disavowing any role.” “The ruling African National Congress party has disavowed the chant, which South African courts have ruled is not meant literally and is therefore not hate speech.” Etymology
From dis- + avow, or from Old French desavouer.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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