French Conversation · Level 17
90 words
French word
refus
Pronunciation
IPA/ʁəfy/
Meaning
- masculine nounrefusal
Example
J'ai eu un refus.
I got a refusal.
More examples
Elle a reçu un refus catégorique.
She received a categorical refusal.
Core concept
A requested thing meets a firm pushback from a person or institution.
Common phrases
un refus catégorique
a categorical refusal
essuyer un refus
to meet with a refusal
un refus poli
a polite refusal
Similar words
réponse négative: A reply that says no to a request or invitation.
rejet: A formal decision not to accept an application or submission.
Definition in French
Désigne l'acte par lequel une personne ou une institution refuse d'accorder ce qui est demandé.
Word origin
Refus is a noun formed from French refuser, an Old French verb ultimately derived from Latin refusare, meaning to refuse.
Usage tips
- Refus is masculine, so the standard article is un, as in un refus.
Other meanings
- rejectionnoun
- denialnoun
Opposites
- acceptationacceptancenoun
- accordagreementnoun
Related words
- refuserrefuseverb
- refusérejectedadjective