Added 8 October 2026

deny

/dɪˈnaɪ/ verb

In Latin: negō, abnego, denego Wiktionary

verb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about deny at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

To disallow or reject.
I wanted to go to the party, but I was denied.
To assert that something is not true.
to deny a rumour to deny an allegation
To refuse to give or grant something to someone.
My father denied me a good education.

From Middle English denyen, from Old French denoier (“to deny, to repudiate”) (French dénier), from Latin denegare (“to deny, to refuse”), from de- (“away”) and negare (“to refuse”), the latter ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *né (“no, not”). Doublet of denegate.