Added 9 October 2026
refutation
/ˌɹɛf.jʊˈteɪ.ʃən/ noun
In Latin: refūtātiō First recorded: 1536 Wiktionary
noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about refutation at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
-
The speech act of answering an attack on your assertions.
his refutation of the charges was short and persuasive
- Any evidence that helps to establish the falsity of something.
- The act of determining that something is false.
Origin
Borrowed from Middle French refutation (compare French réfutation, Spanish refutación, Portuguese refutação, Italian refutazione) or its etymon Latin refūtātiō, from refūtō + -ātiō. By surface analysis, refute + -ation. First attested in 1536 (in sense 1).
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)