renege

[ ri-nig, -neg, -neeg ]
See synonyms for: renegereneging on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object),re·neged, re·neg·ing.
  1. Cards. to play a card that is not of the suit led when one can follow suit; break a rule of play.

  2. to go back on one's word: He has reneged on his promise.

verb (used with object),re·neged, re·neg·ing.
  1. Archaic. to deny; disown; renounce.

noun
  1. Cards. an act or instance of reneging.

Origin of renege

1
1540–50; earlier renegue<Medieval Latin renegāre, equivalent to re-re- + negāre to deny (cf. negative)

Other words from renege

  • re·neg·er, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for renege

renege

renegue

/ (rɪˈniːɡ, -ˈneɪɡ) /


verb
  1. (intr often foll by on) to go back (on one's promise, etc)

verb, noun
  1. cards other words for revoke

Origin of renege

1
C16 (in the sense: to deny, renounce): from Medieval Latin renegāre to renounce; see renegade

Derived forms of renege

  • reneger or reneguer, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012