noun · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
UK:/ɹɪˈbʌt.əl/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
US:/ɹiˈbʌt.əl/
US:[ɹiˈbʌɾ.əl]
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Australian:/ɹɪˈbat.əl/
Australian:[ɹɪˈbaɾ.əl]
rhymes with -ʌtəl
CMU ARPABET:R IH0 B AH1 T AH0 L
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
CMU ARPABET 2:R IY0 B AH1 T AH0 L
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
The act of contradicting something by making a contrary argument, or presenting contrary evidence.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: see at refutation
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
A statement, designed to refute or negate specific arguments put forward by opponents.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
A pleading by a defendant in reply to the evidence put forward by a plaintiff or the prosecution.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: law
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
(law) a pleading by the defendant in reply to a plaintiff's surrejoinder
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: rebutter
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: pleading
5
noun
Meaning 5
the speech act of refuting by offering a contrary contention or argument
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: refutation, defense, defence
History
Etymology
From rebut + -al.
Across languages
Translations
24 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Belarusian:
абвяржэ́нне
(abvjaržénnje)
— act of refuting something by making a contrary argument
Bulgarian:
отричане
(otričane)
— act of refuting something by making a contrary argument
Bulgarian:
отхвърляне
(othvǎrljane)
— act of refuting something by making a contrary argument
Chinese Mandarin:
反駁 /反驳
(fǎnbó)
— act of refuting something by making a contrary argument
Dutch:
weerlegging
— act of refuting something by making a contrary argument
Finnish:
vastaväite
— act of refuting something by making a contrary argument
German:
Erwiderung
— act of refuting something by making a contrary argument
German:
Gegenschrift
— act of refuting something by making a contrary argument
German:
Gegenbeweis
— act of refuting something by making a contrary argument
German:
Widerlegung
— act of refuting something by making a contrary argument
German:
Zurückweisung
— act of refuting something by making a contrary argument
Greek:
ανασκευή
(anaskeví)
— act of refuting something by making a contrary argument
Hindi:
खंडन
(khaṇḍan)
— act of refuting something by making a contrary argument
Indonesian:
bidasan
— act of refuting something by making a contrary argument
Indonesian:
sanggahan
— act of refuting something by making a contrary argument
Japanese:
反論
(hanron)
— act of refuting something by making a contrary argument
Kazakh:
жоққа шығару
(joqqa şyğaru)
— act of refuting something by making a contrary argument
Kazakh:
өтірікке шығару
(ötırıkke şyğaru)
— act of refuting something by making a contrary argument
Kazakh:
теріске шығару
(terıske şyğaru)
— act of refuting something by making a contrary argument
Russian:
опровержение
(oproverženije)
— act of refuting something by making a contrary argument
Spanish:
zasca
— act of refuting something by making a contrary argument
Spanish:
impugnación
— act of refuting something by making a contrary argument
Spanish:
rebatimiento
— act of refuting something by making a contrary argument
Ukrainian:
спростува́ння
(sprostuvánnja)
— act of refuting something by making a contrary argument
