rebut

verb

re·​but ri-ˈbət How to pronounce rebut (audio)
rebutted; rebutting

transitive verb

1
: to drive or beat back : repel
2
a
: to contradict or oppose by formal legal argument, plea, or countervailing proof
b
: to expose the falsity of : refute

intransitive verb

: to make or furnish an answer or counter proof
rebuttable adjective

Did you know?

The -but in rebut once meant basically "butt", so rebut's original meanings were "to drive or beat back" and "to attack with violent language". Rebuttals can still be rather violent, as anyone who has watched some heated moments in a presidential debate can testify. The word is often used by lawyers, since the lawyer for the accused or for the party being sued almost always tries to rebut the charges against his or her client; but it's also used in plenty of contexts outside the courtroom.

Examples of rebut in a Sentence

Her lawyer attempted to rebut the witness's testimony. Stalingrad's defenders were finally able to rebut the besiegers, but only after a horrendous loss of life.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
After Hovde mentioned Milwaukee’s 4 a.m. election results, city election officials rebutted his claims in a Nov. 11 Instagram post. Hope Karnopp, Journal Sentinel, 19 Nov. 2024 The report comes out on the heels of a report from the European Central Bank (ECB) in which the institution, which has claimed that bitcoin has no fair or intrinsic value, argued that Bitcoin’s price appreciation was fueling division in society, a claim that was later rebutted by experts. Frank Corva, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024 Local and state leaders have rebutted such claims and said the rumors distract from genuine housing, schooling and health care constraints the city has faced as its immigrant population increased. Madison Czopek, Austin American-Statesman, 27 Sep. 2024 Popular on Variety The prosecution rebutted those claims, delivering a lengthy argument that Combs is a flight risk, a danger to the community and a repeat obstructor of justice. Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 17 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for rebut 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French reboter, from re- + boter to butt — more at butt entry 3

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rebut was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near rebut

Cite this Entry

“Rebut.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rebut. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

rebut

verb
re·​but ri-ˈbət How to pronounce rebut (audio)
rebutted; rebutting
1
: to oppose by argument
2
: to prove to be wrong especially by argument or by proof that the opposite is true

Legal Definition

rebut

transitive verb
re·​but ri-ˈbət How to pronounce rebut (audio)
rebutted; rebutting
: to refute, counteract, or disprove (as opposing evidence) by evidence or argument
rebut damaging testimony
rebut a presumption
rebuttable adjective
rebuttably adverb
Etymology

Anglo-French reboter, rebuter to answer a charge, bar from an action, literally, to repulse, rebuff, from Old French reboter, from re- back + boter to push, butt

More from Merriam-Webster on rebut

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