disown

[ dis-ohn ]

verb (used with object)

1. to refuse to acknowledge as belonging or pertaining to oneself; deny the ownership of or responsibility for; repudiate; renounce:

   to disown one's heirs; to disown a published statement.

   Synonyms: abjure, reject, disavow, disclaim

disown

/ dɪsˈəʊn /

verb

1. tr to deny any connection with; refuse to acknowledge

Derived Forms

• disˈowner, noun
• disˈownment, noun

Other Word Forms

• dis·ownment noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of disown¹

First recorded in 1610–20; dis- ¹ + own

Example Sentences

Ruby also disowned her daughter Shari, who was away at college.

From Los Angeles Times

I really understood these concepts as a person whose own father disowned her.

From Los Angeles Times

The Jewish Community of Guatemala has issued a statement disowning the sect, describing it as foreign to its own organisation.

From BBC

But that's a liberal podcast, so of course the panelists also offered reassurances that it's OK to disown family members if their Trump vote is "a symptom of larger issues."

From Salon

She has previously spoken about her parents attempting to force her to marry when she was a teenager, her escape, and being disowned as a result.

From BBC

Related Words

• disavow
• discard
• disclaim
• renounce
• repudiate
• retract