odmowa

Odmowa is a noun in Polish that denotes the act of refusing or denying something. It refers to an explicit saying “no,” a rejection of a request, proposal, or claim, and can indicate a formal or informal denial. The term is commonly used in everyday speech as well as in administrative, legal, and administrative contexts.

Etymology and forms: the word odmowa is derived from the verb odmówić or its imperfective form odmawiać, which mean to refuse or to deny. The prefix od- conveys negation or reversal, and the root relates to declaring a stance or decision. Related terms include sprzeciw (opposition) and negacja (negation).

Usage and contexts: odmowa appears in a variety of settings. In daily language it may describe a simple refusal, for example, odmowa przyjęcia zaproszenia (refusal to accept an invitation). In formal or legal contexts, it is used to characterize a denial of a request or right, such as odmowa udzielenia informacji (refusal to provide information), odmowa zgody (refusal of consent), or odmowa odwołania wniosku. In medicine, a patient’s odmowa leczenia may indicate a decision to decline treatment. The term emphasizes the act as a concrete decision rather than just a negative response.

See also: related concepts include sprzeciw (objection) and negacja (negation). Odmowa remains a neutral, widely used term across public and private discourse to describe a definitive refusal or denial.