Pronunciation: /rɪˈfjuːzəl/

Definitions of refusal

noun a statement or action that shows a rejection or denial of something

Example Sentences

A1 Her refusal to eat vegetables made dinner time difficult.

A2 The manager's refusal to give a refund upset the customer.

B1 The student's refusal to follow the rules resulted in detention.

B2 The company's refusal to negotiate led to a breakdown in talks.

C1 His refusal to compromise on the deal cost him the partnership.

C2 The politician's refusal to address the issue caused public outrage.

adjective refusing or denying something

Example Sentences

A1 She showed her refusal to eat the vegetables by pushing them away.

A2 His refusal to participate in the group project caused tension among his classmates.

B1 The company's refusal to negotiate led to a breakdown in communication with the union.

B2 Despite his refusal to accept the promotion, his boss insisted he was the best candidate for the job.

C1 Her refusal to compromise on her principles made her a respected leader in the community.

C2 The government's refusal to acknowledge the protests only fueled the demonstrators' determination to be heard.

Examples of refusal in a Sentence

formal The company received a formal refusal from the supplier regarding the new contract terms.

informal I can't believe she said no to the invitation, what a refusal!

slang He gave me the cold shoulder, a total refusal of my offer.

figurative Her refusal to accept help is like building a wall around herself.

Grammatical Forms of refusal

past tense

refused

plural

refusals

comparative

more refusal

superlative

most refusal

present tense

refuses

future tense

will refuse

perfect tense

have refused

continuous tense

is refusing

singular

refusal

positive degree

refusal

infinitive

to refuse

gerund

refusing

participle

refusing

Origin and Evolution of refusal

First Known Use: 1400 year
Language of Origin: Old French
Story behind the word: The word 'refusal' originated from the Old French word 'refuser' which means to reject or deny.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'refusal' has retained its original meaning of rejecting or denying something, but it has also come to encompass a broader range of contexts and situations in which someone may decline or turn down an offer, request, or opportunity.