Dictionary-enhanced word family
Word Forms of “Disavow”
To publicly say that you do not support something, have no connection to it, or were not involved in it. To distance yourself from something.
Word Family of Disavow
How to Use Each Word Form in a Sentence
- The company quickly disavowed the controversial advertisement after public backlash. C2
- The senator disavowed his earlier statements about the economic policy. C2
- She disavowed any knowledge of the unauthorized fund transfer. C2
Word Form Patterns for Disavow
-al
Adds **-al** to form an adjective meaning relating to. Example: disavow → disavowal.
Origin and Word Formation of Disavow
From Old French 'desavower' (to deny or disown). 'Dis-' (away, negative) + 'avow' (to claim, own). Entered English in 16th century.
Common in political discourse when leaders distance themselves from controversial statements or actions by subordinates.
Common Word Form Mistakes with Disavow
Wrong: The president disavowed to make that statement.
Correct: The president disavowed making that statement. / The president disavowed that statement.
'Disavow' takes a noun or gerund (-ing form), not an infinitive with 'to'.
Frequently Asked Questions About Word Forms of Disavow
What are the word forms of “disavow”?
The confirmed forms are shown in the word family cards above. Missing parts of speech are hidden instead of filled with placeholder text.
What part of speech is “disavow”?
“disavow” is primarily a verb. Some forms above show how the same root works as other parts of speech.
Where does “disavow” come from?
From Old French 'desavower' (to deny or disown). 'Dis-' (away, negative) + 'avow' (to claim, own). Entered English in 16th century.