renege
Low to mediumFormal, often used in legal, business, or serious contexts.
Definition
Meaning
To fail to keep a promise or agreement.
To deny or renounce a previous commitment, often implying a breach of trust or obligation.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Carries a negative connotation of unreliability or dishonesty; typically involves a prior assurance.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is similar in both varieties, but may be slightly more common in American English in legal and business contexts.
Connotations
Generally negative, implying betrayal or failure to uphold obligations.
Frequency
More frequent in written English and in specific domains like law, business, or politics.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
renege on + noun phraseVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “renege on one's word”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used when a party fails to honor a contract or agreement, e.g., 'The supplier reneged on the delivery terms.'
Academic
Seldom used; may appear in legal, ethical, or historical discussions about commitments.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation; more likely in formal discussions about broken promises.
Technical
Common in legal texts to describe breach of contract or obligation.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The company reneged on their agreement to reduce prices.
- He promised to help but reneged at the last moment.
American English
- The contractor reneged on the deal after signing the contract.
- She reneged on her promise to donate to the charity.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He said he would come, but he reneged.
- The government reneged on its promise to lower taxes.
- After initially agreeing, the investor reneged on the funding deal, causing delays.
- The diplomat's decision to renege on the treaty undermined international trust and led to sanctions.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'renege' as 're-neg' – to negate again, meaning to go back on something previously agreed.
Conceptual Metaphor
BREAKING A PROMISE IS BETRAYAL
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Confusing it with general refusal words like 'отказываться', which is broader; 'renege' specifically implies going back on a prior commitment.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'renege' without 'on', e.g., 'He reneged the promise.' instead of 'He reneged on the promise.'
- Mispronouncing as /riːˈnɛdʒ/ or similar.
Practice
Quiz
What does 'renege' typically mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is generally used in formal contexts, such as legal or business settings.
No, 'renege' is always followed by 'on' when referring to the thing being gone back on, e.g., 'renege on a promise'.
It comes from the Latin 'renegare', meaning 'to deny'.
It is not very common in casual conversation; it is more frequently used in written or formal spoken English.