PoliticsSeptember 7, 2026

disinvites

dis-in-VITES

Definition

To officially withdraw an invitation previously extended to someone, preventing them from attending or participating in an event.

Etymology

Derived from the Latin 'dis-' (reversal or negation) and 'invitare' (to invite), the word entered English in the 19th century as a direct negation of the act of extending an invitation.

In the news

The author uses this term to illustrate the common institutional practice of retracting speaking invitations, noting that such decisions are usually presented as indisputable acts of confidence rather than acknowledging their potential negative costs.

The Argument We Forgot How to Have – Stuart N. Brotman

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Law & Liberty

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