denoncer

Dénoncer is a French verb meaning to denounce, to report wrongdoing to authorities, or to condemn publicly. It can also mean to reveal or expose information about someone or something. The noun forms include la dénonciation (the act or process of denouncing) and un dénonciateur/ une dénonciatrice (a denouncer, the person who denounces). When written without diacritics, denoncer is simply the unaccented form of the verb.

Etymology and related forms: Dénoncer comes from Old French denoncer, derived from Latin denuntiare, “to announce publicly.” The word shares semantic ground with similar terms in Romance languages and with the English verb denounce.

Usage and nuance: In contemporary French, denoncer is used for reporting crimes or illicit activity to authorities, exposing corruption, or publicly condemning actions or ideas. The term can carry moral weight, ranging from civic duty to moral judgment. The act of dénonciation can be formal, as in filing a complaint with police or administrative bodies, or informal, as in public accusation. The expression dénonciation calomnieuse refers to false or slanderous denunciation and is subject to legal consideration in many jurisdictions. The related noun dénonciation covers both formal complaints and public denunciation.

In English contexts, the closest equivalents are to denounce (the verb) and denunciation (the noun); denouncer is a possible but relatively uncommon noun for a person who denounces. The concept also intersects with whistleblowing and reporting mechanisms in legal and corporate environments, where denouncing wrongdoing may be protected or regulated by law.