PoliticsJuly 13, 2026

denialist

/dɪˈnaɪəlɪst/

Definition

A person who rejects well-established facts or evidence, particularly one who persists in claiming that the 2020 presidential election results were fraudulent despite a lack of evidence.

Etymology

The word combines the English verb 'deny'—derived from the Old French 'denier' and Latin 'denegare'—with the suffix '-ist,' denoting a person who adheres to a particular belief or doctrine. It gained prominence in modern political discourse to categorize those who actively dispute consensus-based reality.

In the news

In this article, the term is used to describe individuals appointed by President Trump to oversight positions because of their willingness to promote claims of election fraud. Their placement is cited by critics as a strategy to gain federal control over the midterm election process.

Trump moves to tighten federal control of elections ahead of midterms

Read the full article ↗

USA Today

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