avkräftad

Avkräftad is a Swedish term used as an adjective to describe information, claims, or statements that have been disconfirmed or debunked after further evidence or official clarification. It is a relatively informal or contemporary term, most commonly found in journalism, fact-checking, and online discourse.

Etymology and usage notes: the word is generally understood as formed from the prefix av- meaning “un-” or “away” attached to a root related to confirming, with the sense of removing or reversing confirmation. The corresponding verb avkräfta exists, and avkräftad is used both attributively (en avkräftad uppgift) and predicatively (uppenföljande påstående är avkräftat).

Contexts and meaning: in media and public discussion, avkräftad signals a change in status for a claim that was once considered credible but has later been proven false, unsubstantiated, or no longer supported by evidence. It helps label updates in the reliability of information and is closely tied to fact-checking practices, corrections, and retractions.

Examples: an article might state that “påståendet om en massäventyrlig teknisk lösning är avkräftat” or “myndigheterna avkräftade tidigare rykten om nya regler.” In everyday use, people may say that “ryktet är avkräftat” to indicate the rumor has been debunked.

Related terms: bekkräfta (to confirm), avfärda (to dismiss or rule out), förneka (to deny), and debunk (an English loanword used in similar contexts). Avkräftad sits among these terms as a label for information that has been shown to be false or misleading.