Disown: meaning, definitions and examples

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disown

 

[ dษชsหˆษ™สŠn ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

family relationship

Refuse to acknowledge or maintain any connection with someone.

Synonyms

reject, renounce, repudiate.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
disown

This is often used when a family member formally declares that they no longer recognize a relationship with another family member. It involves a personal or legal severance of ties.

  • After a heated argument, the father decided to disown his son
  • She was disowned by her family after she married against their wishes
renounce

Often used in formal contexts where someone publicly declares the abandonment of a position, belief, or claim. It involves a conscious decision and formal declaration.

  • He decided to renounce his citizenship to avoid paying taxes
  • She renounced her previous beliefs after extensive research
reject

Used in a broader context where something is declined or dismissed. It does not carry the same legal or personal weight as 'disown' and can refer to offers, ideas, or proposals.

  • The board rejected the proposal for the new project
  • He felt hurt when his job application was rejected
repudiate

Typically used in formal or legal contexts to deny the validity of something. It might involve rejecting the truth, validity, or authority of a statement or agreement.

  • The company issued a statement to repudiate the allegations of fraud
  • He repudiated the contract as it was signed under duress

Examples of usage

  • He disowned his own son after the scandal.
  • She decided to disown her parents for their cruel behavior.
Context #2 | Verb

property ownership

Refuse to acknowledge or maintain any connection with something that one is responsible for.

Synonyms

abdicate responsibility for, dissociate from, divest oneself of.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
disown

Used when someone formally rejects or no longer acknowledges a person or relationship, often within a family or close relationship. It carries a strong emotional and sometimes legal implication.

  • John's father threatened to disown him if he continued his rebellious behavior.
  • After learning about her son's crimes, she decided to disown him.
dissociate from

Used when someone wants to detach or distance themselves from a person, group, or situation to avoid association or involvement. Often used to maintain a certain reputation or avoid negative consequences.

  • She dissociated herself from the scandal by publicly denying any involvement.
  • The company quickly moved to dissociate from the controversial statement made by its former employee.
divest oneself of

Used when someone intentionally and proactively removes themselves from ownership, possession, or association, often in a financial or organizational context.

  • The CEO decided to divest himself of all his shares in the company.
  • In light of the new regulations, he chose to divest himself of his overseas assets.
abdicate responsibility for

Used when someone gives up their duty or responsibility, typically in a formal or professional setting. It often implies neglect or a failure to fulfill one's duties.

  • The manager cannot abdicate responsibility for the project's failure.
  • Parents should not abdicate responsibility for their children's education.

Examples of usage

  • The company decided to disown the controversial project.
  • He disowned all his possessions and decided to live a minimalist lifestyle.

Translations

Translations of the word "disown" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น renegar

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคคเฅเคฏเคพเค—เคจเคพ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช verleugnen

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ menyangkal

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะทั€ะตะบั‚ะธัั

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ wyrzec siฤ™

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ็ธใ‚’ๅˆ‡ใ‚‹ (ใˆใ‚“ใ‚’ใใ‚‹)

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท renier

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ renegar

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท reddetmek

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์ €๋ฒ„๋ฆฌ๋‹ค

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุชู†ูƒุฑ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ zล™eknout se

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ zriecลฅ sa

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๆ–ญ็ปๅ…ณ็ณป (duร n juรฉ guฤn xรฌ)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ zatajiti

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ afneita

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะฑะฐั ั‚ะฐั€ั‚ัƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒฃแƒแƒ แƒงแƒแƒคแƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ imtina etmษ™k

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ renegar

Etymology

The word 'disown' originated in the late 16th century from the combination of the prefix 'dis-' meaning 'apart, away' and the word 'own'. It originally meant to refuse to acknowledge someone as one's own or to refuse to own up to something. Over time, it has come to be commonly used in the context of family relationships and property ownership.

See also: own, owner, ownerless, owners, owning, unowned.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #26,408, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.