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Synonyms

demurrer

1 American  
[dih-mur-er] / dɪˈmɜr ər /

noun

  1. a person who demurs; objector.

demurrer 2 American  
[dih-mur-er] / dɪˈmɜr ər /

noun

  1. Law. a pleading in effect that even if the facts are as alleged by the opposite party, they do not sustain the contention based on them.

  2. an objection raised; demur.

    Synonyms:
    misgiving, qualm, protest, challenge, dissent
demurrer British  
/ dɪˈmʌrə /

noun

  1. law a pleading that admits an opponent's point but denies that it is a relevant or valid argument

  2. any objection raised

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of demurrer1

demur + -er 1

Origin of demurrer2

From the Anglo-French word demur(r)er, dating back to 1525–35. See demur, -er 3

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

For the eviction lawsuit, Hirschhorn’s team requested a demurrer, which is a plea to dismiss a complaint on the grounds that there’s no legal basis for a lawsuit.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 14, 2023

The demurrer was filed "after Defendants met and conferred with Plaintiff in good faith," the docs read.

From Fox News • Jan. 24, 2022

Per legal documents obtained by Fox News, Judge Gregory Keosian ended the court matter on Tuesday after a demurrer ruling that the woman’s accusations fell out of the statute of limitations.

From Fox News • Sep. 15, 2021

In December, the city filed both a demurrer and a motion to strike, in hopes of having the case diminished or dismissed outright.

From The Verge • Jan. 28, 2016

He made a brief yet clear and plausable argument in favor of the demurrer.

From Memoirs of Orange Jacobs by Jacobs, Orange

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.