[syn: defense, defence, denial, demurrer]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Denial \De*ni"al\, n. [See Deny.]
1. The act of gainsaying, refusing, or disowning; negation;
-- the contrary of affirmation.
[1913 Webster]
You ought to converse with so much sincerity that
your bare affirmation or denial may be sufficient.
--Bp.
Stillingfleet.
[1913 Webster]
2. A refusal to admit the truth of a statement, charge,
imputation, etc.; assertion of the untruth of a thing
stated or maintained; a contradiction.
[1913 Webster]
3. A refusal to grant; rejection of a request.
[1913 Webster]
The commissioners, . . . to obtain from the king's
subjects as much as they would willingly give, . . .
had not to complain of many peremptory denials.
--Hallam.
[1913 Webster]
4. A refusal to acknowledge; disclaimer of connection with;
disavowal; -- the contrary of confession; as, the denial
of a fault charged on one; a denial of God.
[1913 Webster]
Denial of one's self, a declining of some gratification;
restraint of one's appetites or propensities; self-denial.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
denial
n 1: the act of refusing to comply (as with a request); "it
resulted in a complete denial of his privileges"
2: the act of asserting that something alleged is not true [syn:
denial, disaffirmation]
3: (psychiatry) a defense mechanism that denies painful thoughts
4: renunciation of your own interests in favor of the interests
of others [syn: abnegation, self-abnegation, denial,
self-denial, self-renunciation]
5: a defendant's answer or plea denying the truth of the charges
against him; "he gave evidence for the defense" [syn:
defense, defence, denial, demurrer] [ant: criminal
prosecution, prosecution]