refudiate: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Extremely rare / Non-standardInformal / Humorous / Cited as an error
Quick answer
What does “refudiate” mean?
A non-standard, malapropistic blend of 'refute' and 'repudiate', used informally to mean 'reject', 'deny', or 'disavow'.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A non-standard, malapropistic blend of 'refute' and 'repudiate', used informally to mean 'reject', 'deny', or 'disavow'.
To categorically reject or deny the validity or existence of something, often in a public or political context. The word is often cited as an example of a linguistic error that gained attention.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant regional difference. Awareness of the word stems from its use by an American public figure, but it is equally recognized as a notable error in all English-speaking regions.
Connotations
Strongly connotes a linguistic blunder, political gaffe, or humorous malapropism. It is not used seriously in formal discourse.
Frequency
Virtually never used in genuine communication outside of quoting or discussing the original incident.
Grammar
How to Use “refudiate” in a Sentence
[Subject] refudiates [Object] (e.g., She refudiated the allegations).Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “refudiate” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The MP was forced to refudiate the story that had appeared in the tabloids.
- He attempted to refudiate the scientific consensus.
American English
- The mayor had to quickly refudiate the controversial comments.
- She took to Twitter to refudiate the allegations.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Only mentioned in linguistics, communication, or political science papers as a case study of a malapropism or neologism.
Everyday
Only used jokingly or when referring to the original gaffe.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “refudiate”
- Using 'refudiate' in formal or serious writing.
- Believing it is a legitimate synonym for 'refute' or 'reject'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'refudiate' is not a standard word in the English language. It is a malapropism—a blend of 'refute' and 'repudiate'—that gained notoriety after being used publicly.
American public figure Sarah Palin used the word in a 2010 social media post, which led to widespread commentary and its inclusion in some dictionaries as a non-standard or humorous entry.
No, you should not use 'refudiate' in formal writing. It is considered an error. Use 'refute', 'repudiate', 'reject', or 'deny' as appropriate to your meaning.
Some dictionaries, like the New Oxford American Dictionary, added it as a 'Word of the Year' entry in 2010, noting its status as a non-standard blend word born from a notable error, not as an endorsement of its standard usage.
A non-standard, malapropistic blend of 'refute' and 'repudiate', used informally to mean 'reject', 'deny', or 'disavow'.
Refudiate is usually informal / humorous / cited as an error in register.
Refudiate: in British English it is pronounced /rɪˈfjuːdɪeɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /rɪˈfjudiˌeɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No established idioms]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of REFUting and repUDIATE being squeezed together, but the result is a linguistic accident you should 'refuse' to use.
Conceptual Metaphor
[Not applicable for a non-standard word]
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary reason 'refudiate' is notable?