First Known Use: 1548
Dictionary
renege
verb re·nege \ri-ˈneg also -ˈnāg, -ˈnig; rē-\
: to refuse to do something that you promised or agreed to do
re·negedre·neg·ing
Full Definition of RENEGE
transitive verb
intransitive verb
1
obsolete : to make a denial
2
: revoke
3
: to go back on a promise or commitment
— re·neg·er noun
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Origin of RENEGE
Medieval Latin renegare
Related to RENEGE
RENEGING Defined for Kids
renege
verb re·nege \ri-ˈnig, -ˈneg\
re·negedre·neg·ing
Definition of RENEGE for Kids
: to go back on a promise or agreement
Word Root of RENEGE
The Latin word negāre, meaning “to deny” or “to say no,” and its form negātus give us the root neg. Words from the Latin negāre have something to do with saying no. Anything negative, such as a reply to a question, denies something or responds by saying no. To renege is to go back on, or deny, an agreement or promise. Even the last letters of deny, to declare something to be false, come from negāre.
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