refusal

[ ri-fyoo-zuhl ]

noun

1. an act or instance of refusing. refuse.
2. priority in refusing refuse or taking something; option.
3. complete resistance of a driven pile to further driving.

refusal

/ rɪˈfjuːzəl /

noun

1. the act or an instance of refusing
2. the opportunity to reject or accept; option

Other Words From

• prere·fusal noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of refusal¹

First recorded in 1425–75, refusal is from the late Middle English word refusell. See refuse ¹, -al ²

Example Sentences

Brower himself soon resigned from the Sierra Club board in protest over what he saw as its refusal to consider immigration’s effect on population growth.

From Salon

That refusal eventually resulted in the attack on the U.S.

From Salon

Hovde's refusal to give in is not altogether surprising.

From Salon

Yet, less than a year after Rolling Stone published “The Sheik” in 1972, Babitz fired off a pointed missive to Didion, taking her to task for her refusal to acknowledge the ways in which sexism had impeded the artistic progress of women.

From Los Angeles Times

He points to the party’s refusal to campaign in Dearborn as “gutless.”

From Slate

Related Words

• ban
• defiance
• exclusion
• noncompliance
• rejection
• reversal
• veto