reject

[ verb ri-jekt; noun ree-jekt ]

verb (used with object)

1. to refuse to have, take, recognize, etc.:

   to reject the offer of a better job.

   Synonyms: deny

2. to refuse to grant (a request, demand, etc.).

   Synonyms: deny

3. to refuse to accept (someone or something); rebuff:

   The other children rejected him. The publisher rejected the author's latest novel.

   Synonyms: renounce, repel

4. to discard as useless or unsatisfactory:

   The mind rejects painful memories.

   Synonyms: jettison, eliminate

5. to cast out or eject; vomit.
6. to cast out or off.
7. Medicine/Medical. (of a human or other animal) to have an immunological reaction against (a transplanted organ or grafted tissue):

   If tissue types are not matched properly, a patient undergoing a transplant will reject the graft.

noun

1. something rejected, as an imperfect article.

   Synonyms: second

reject

verb

1. to refuse to accept, acknowledge, use, believe, etc
2. to throw out as useless or worthless; discard
3. to rebuff (a person)
4. (of an organism) to fail to accept (a foreign tissue graft or organ transplant) because of immunological incompatibility

noun

1. something rejected as imperfect, unsatisfactory, or useless

Derived Forms

• reˈjective, adjective
• reˈjection, noun
• reˈjectable, adjective
• reˈjecter, noun

Other Words From

• re·jecta·ble adjective
• re·jecter noun
• re·jective adjective
• prere·ject verb (used with object)
• quasi-re·jected adjective
• unre·jecta·ble adjective
• unre·jected adjective
• unre·jective adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of reject¹

First recorded in 1485–95; (verb) from Latin rējectus, past participle of rējicere “to throw back,” equivalent to re- re- + jec-, combining form of jacere “to throw” + -tus past participle suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of reject¹

C15: from Latin rēicere to throw back, from re- + jacere to hurl

Synonym Study

See refuse ¹.

Example Sentences

The minister rejected a Liberal Democrat calls to scrap the ban on asylum seekers working if they have waited more than three months for a decision.

From BBC

The New Zealander, who has rejected speculation that there is a break clause after next year's Six Nations in his contract, said he would resign if it was in the interests of Welsh rugby.

From BBC

She said: "The reason we wanted these sessions was to build Elen’s  self confidence and it did the absolute opposite in terms of feeling rejected, or not good enough, or just not important enough."

From BBC

Twenty-seven were rejected by Israeli authorities and the other four were severely impeded, meaning they were prevented from accomplishing all the work they set out to do.

From BBC

City Manager Georgeanne White warned the council that rejecting the proposal could result in the state punishing the city on its next application for Homekey funding.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• deny
• dismiss
• rebuff
• refuse
• renounce
• repudiate
• scrap
• spurn
• turn down
• veto