denunciation

American  

[dih-nuhn-see-ey-shuhn, -shee-] / dɪˌnʌn siˈeɪ ʃən, -ʃi- /

noun

1. an act or instance of denouncing; public censure or condemnation.

2. an accusation of crime before a public prosecutor or tribunal.

3. notice of the termination or the renouncement of an international agreement or part thereof.

4. Archaic. warning of impending evil; threat.

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denunciation British  

/ dɪˌnʌnsɪˈeɪʃən /

noun

1. open condemnation; censure; denouncing

2. obsolete law a charge or accusation of crime made by an individual before a public prosecutor or tribunal

3. a formal announcement of the termination of a treaty

4. archaic an announcement in the form of an impending threat or warning

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Other Word Forms

• nondenunciation noun
• overdenunciation noun

Etymology

Origin of denunciation

1540–50; < Latin dēnuntiātiōn- (stem of dēnuntiātiō ), equivalent to dēnuntiāt ( us ) ( see denunciate) + -iōn- -ion

Explanation

A denunciation is a public reprimand in which you are told that you've done wrong. If you get caught skipping school, expect denunciation — by teachers, your principal, parents and maybe even your friends. When you harshly criticize someone or something in front of other people, it's a denunciation, like an opinion piece that appears in a newspaper. Sometimes denunciation has the meaning of telling on or exposing someone's misdeeds, like a juicy, book-length denunciation of a famous guitarist written by a former bandmate. The Latin root word is denuntiare, "to announce, proclaim, denounce, or command."

Example Sentences

The Canadian premier delivered a blistering denunciation of US global leadership at last week's World Economic Forum in Davos, earning a rare standing ovation and capturing global headlines.

From Barron's • Jan. 29, 2026

The daring title essay is a denunciation of what she viewed as the modern practice of substituting our own meanings for those contained in works of art, an act that “tames” those works.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 2, 2026

Despite the gory images and strong denunciation of Mamdani, Dan Dow insists that he has no issues with the Muslim community in San Luis Obispo County, where he is the top prosecutor.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 6, 2025

But Rubio's team offered no evidence that Mahdawi is antisemitic, and did not bother to acknowledge his very public denunciation of antisemitism.

From Salon • Apr. 17, 2025

The article was a furious denunciation of Mencken, concluding with one, hot, short sentence: Mencken is a fool.

From "Black Boy" by Richard Wright

Related Words

• accusation
• censure
• denouncement
• indictment
• invective
• reprimand