denies

Denies is the third-person singular present tense of the verb deny. To deny something is to declare that it is not true, to refuse to admit a statement, or to refuse to grant or accept a request or allegation. Denial can apply to facts, accusations, claims, or obligations, and it can be expressed in direct or indirect speech.

Etymologically, deny derives from Latin denegare, meaning to refuse or reject, passing into Old French and then into English. The form denies is used when the subject of the sentence is he, she, or it, as in "She denies the rumors." The related noun is denial.

Usage notes and distinctions: deny is often followed by a direct object or a clause, for example, "They deny the allegations" or "They deny that the event occurred" or "They deny doing so." It is distinct from refuse (to decline or reject an offer or invitation) and reject (to dismiss as unacceptable or unworthy). Deny emphasizes falsehood or non-acknowledgment of a claim, whereas refuse emphasizes unwillingness to comply, and reject emphasizes evaluation as unsatisfactory.

In legal and formal contexts, a party may deny allegations in pleadings or testimony, and a denial can be part of a broader defense. In psychology, denial is also recognized as a defense mechanism—refusing to accept uncomfortable truths. In logic and philosophy, denial is a basic form of negation.

See also denial (concept), negation, refusal, rejection, and deniable.