French Conversation · Level 56
75 words
French word
déni
Pronunciation
IPA/deni/
Meaning
- masculine noundenial
Example
Son déni de la faute est évident.
His denial of the fault is obvious.
More examples
Le déni de responsabilité complique la gestion de l'équipe.
The denial of responsibility complicates team management.
Core concept
A barrier that keeps an unwelcome reality, fault, or request outside conscious acknowledgment.
Common phrases
être dans le déni
be in denial
déni de la réalité
denial of reality
déni de responsabilité
denial of responsibility
Similar words
négation: A denial that a fact or assertion is true.
refus: A stated or demonstrated refusal to accept a request or proposal.
rejet: The act of refusing to accept an idea or demand.
Definition in French
Refus d'admettre ou de reconnaître quelque chose, en particulier une faute, une réalité ou une demande.
Word origin
The noun déni is inherited through Old French from Latin denegare, formed with de- and negare, 'to say no' or 'deny'.
Usage tips
- Déni is more formal than the everyday verb nier, and the expression être dans le déni describes a continuing refusal to face reality.
Related words
- dénierdenyverb
- dénégationdenialnoun
- indéniableundeniableadjective