WorldAugust 26, 2026

disavowing

dis-uh-VOW-ing

Definition

To deny responsibility for, to disclaim, or to formally repudiate the validity or support of something.

Etymology

Derived from the Middle English 'disavowen,' combining the prefix 'dis-' (reversal) and the Old French 'avouer' (to acknowledge or admit).

In the news

The article describes how the Trump administration attempted to force local agencies to drop diversity programs by requiring them to disavow practices such as 'gender ideology' in exchange for federal funding.

Court blocks Trump push to strip grant funds from King County

Read the full article ↗

The Seattle Times

Related words

Learn words like this every day

Meet new words every morning.

Newspoken pulls carefully chosen words from the day’s news — with clear definitions, context, and light review that makes them stick. Get it on your phone.