refute

 
Pronunciation: /rɪˈfjuːt/

verb

[with object]
  • prove (a statement or theory) to be wrong or false; disprove: these claims have not been convincingly refuted
  • prove that (someone) is wrong: his voice challenging his audience to rise and refute him
  • deny or contradict (a statement or accusation): a spokesman totally refuted the allegation of bias

Derivatives

refutable

adjective

refutation

Pronunciation: /rɛfjʊˈteɪʃ(ə)n/
noun

refuter

noun

Origin:

mid 16th century : from Latin refutare 'repel, rebut'

The core meaning of refute is ‘prove a statement or theory to be wrong’, as in attempts to refute Einstein’s theory. In the second half of the 20th century a more general sense developed, meaning simply ‘deny’, as in I absolutely refute the charges made against me. Traditionalists object to this newer use as an unacceptable degradation of the language, but it is widely encountered.