Word
denial
Meanings
the act of saying that something is not true, or refusing to admit it
an official decision not to allow or provide something that was requested
a psychological reaction in which someone avoids accepting a difficult reality
Definition
Denial is the act of refusing to accept that something is true or real.
Denial means saying that an accusation, statement, or fact is not true, or refusing to accept a reality you find difficult. It can refer to an official rejection of a claim or request, or to a personal reaction in which someone avoids facing an uncomfortable truth. In everyday use, it often implies a strong insistence that something did not happen or is not the case.
Examples
- His denial of the allegations only intensified the journalists’ interest.
- I moved from denial to acceptance once I saw the evidence for myself.
- Their denial that the deadline had changed caused unnecessary confusion in the team.
- Her calm denial was persuasive, but the timeline still didn’t add up.
- Your denial of any responsibility makes it hard for others to trust the process.
Common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse "denial" (refusing to accept or admit) with "refusal" (saying no to an offer or request).
More at C1 level
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