verb
renounce
rih-NOUNSS/rɪˈnaʊns/
To formally give up or reject something.
The official renounces the former allegiance by laying down the badge.
Etymology
“Against” plus “announce” connects renouncing with declaring opposition. The Latin verb already meant “protest against” or “renounce,” helping explain the English sense of formally giving up a belief, allegiance, or claim.
In context
Stripped to our shirts and drawers, we sprang to the white- ash, and after several hours pulling were almost disposed to renounce the chase
More examples
- She renounced her citizenship before becoming a citizen elsewhere.
- The prince renounces his claim to the throne.
- Both leaders sign a treaty renouncing violence.
Forms
renounce · renounces · renounced · renouncing
renunciation noun — A formal rejection or surrender of something.
Similar words
- relinquish
- Emphasizes giving up possession or control, not necessarily declaring rejection.
- repudiate
- Emphasizes rejecting a claim, belief, or relationship as unacceptable.
- reject
- Means refusing acceptance, without requiring a formal declaration.