Renouncing Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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renouncing

[rɪˈnaʊnsɪŋ ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Verb

legal

Formally declare one's abandonment of (a claim, right, or possession)

Synonyms

abandon, relinquish, surrender.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
renouncing

Use when formally declaring you give up a position, belief, or claim.

  • He is renouncing his citizenship to move to a new country.
  • They issued a statement renouncing violence.
relinquish

Use when giving up control or possession voluntarily but often reluctantly.

  • He had to relinquish control of the company due to illness.
  • She did not want to relinquish her hold on the trophy.
surrender

Use when giving up in a situation of defeat, often under pressure or demand.

  • The enemy forces had to surrender after a long battle.
  • She decided to surrender to the police.
abandon

Use when leaving something behind completely, often with a sense of irresponsibility or finality.

  • She had to abandon the project due to lack of funds.
  • They abandoned the car when it broke down.

Examples of usage

  • He renounced his claim to the throne.
  • She renounced her citizenship in protest.
Context #2 | Verb

personal

Refuse to recognize or abide by any longer

Synonyms

disavow, disown, reject.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
renouncing

Used when formally giving up a title, claim, or belief, often in a public or official manner.

  • He is renouncing his citizenship to move to another country.
  • After the scandal, she renounced her position in the company.
reject

Used when refusing to accept, agree with, or believe something or someone. It can be used in various informal or formal contexts.

  • They rejected the proposal as it did not meet their requirements.
  • She was rejected for the job despite her qualifications.
disown

Used when formally rejecting or cutting ties with a person, often a family member, indicating a total severance of relationship.

  • After learning about her son's criminal activities, she decided to disown him.
  • He was disowned by his family for marrying against their wishes.
disavow

Used when denying responsibility or support for someone or something, often to distance oneself from it. It can carry a negative connotation.

  • The politician disavowed any involvement in the corruption scandal.
  • The company quickly disavowed the employee's controversial statements.

Examples of usage

  • He renounced his former way of life.
  • She renounced her faith after the incident.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Philosophy

  • In various philosophical movements, renouncing worldly pleasures is considered essential for achieving inner peace.
  • Buddhism teaches the renunciation of desires to attain enlightenment, emphasizing detachment from material things.
  • Stoicism advocates for renouncing emotional responses to external events, focusing instead on inner virtue.

Religion

  • Many religious traditions involve renouncing sin or worldly attachments as a step toward spiritual growth.
  • In Buddhism, monks often renounce earthly possessions as part of their practice to emphasize simplicity.
  • Christianity teaches the renunciation of sin, depicting it as a way to live a life closer to God.

Cultural Practices

  • In some cultures, renouncing a title or position can symbolize humility and serve as a moral lesson.
  • Certain social movements encourage renouncing harmful practices, promoting better ethical standards in communities.
  • The act of renouncing can be seen in political protests when individuals publicly denounce affiliations or ideologies.

Psychology

  • Renouncing negative habits can lead to improved mental health, as individuals create healthier behavioral patterns.
  • Psychologists suggest that recognizing the need to renounce unhelpful beliefs is a critical step in cognitive restructuring.
  • The concept of renunciation often relates to self-control, where resisting impulses leads to greater long-term satisfaction.

Origin of 'renouncing'

Main points about word origin

  • The word comes from the Latin 'renuntiare', meaning 'to announce' or 'to reject'.
  • It is made up of 're-' meaning 'back' and 'nuntiare' meaning 'to declare'.
  • Languages like Spanish ('renunciar') and French ('renoncer') borrow from the same Latin root, showing common heritage.

The word 'renouncing' comes from the Middle English 'renouncen', which in turn comes from the Old French 'renoncier', ultimately derived from the Latin 'renuntiare', meaning 'announce, renounce'. The concept of renouncing has been present throughout history in various contexts, from legal matters to personal beliefs.


See also: renounce, renunciation.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #21,281, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.