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confutation

/ˌkɑnfjʊˈteɪʃən/
IPA guide

Other forms: confutations

A confutation is the act of refuting someone's point forcefully. Accused criminals must offer confutation if they hope to be found innocent.

If you know the verb confute — which means to overwhelm through an argument — this noun will be a no-brainer: it refers to the act of confuting, or a statement that confutes. The meaning is not that far removed from refutation, with which confutation shares a Latin root. A confutation proves that another idea is false or nonsensical. People who argue for a living, like lawyers, are masters of confutation.

Definitions of confutation
  1. noun
    evidence that refutes conclusively
    see moresee less
    type of:
    disproof, falsification, refutation
    any evidence that helps to establish the falsity of something
  2. noun
    the speech act of refuting conclusively
    see moresee less
    type of:
    defence, defense, refutation
    the speech act of answering an attack on your assertions
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