réfuter

Réfuter is a French verb meaning to refute, to prove that a statement or theory is false or erroneous. It is used to counter an argument by presenting evidence, counter-examples, or logical reasoning, thereby diminishing its force or validity. The term is common in academic, legal, journalistic, and everyday argumentative contexts.

Etymology and forms: Réfuter comes from Latin refutare, meaning to drive back or repel, and entered French via Old French réfuter. It is a regular -er verb. Present tense forms are: je réfute, tu réfutes, il réfute, nous réfutons, vous réfutez, ils réfutent. The passé composé uses avoir: j’ai réfuté; the imperfect is je réfutais, the future je réfuterai, and the conditional je réfuterais. The past participle is réfuté, used as an adjective in phrases such as une thèse réfutée.

Usage and nuance: Réfuter differs from nier (to deny) and contester (to challenge) in that réfuter implies disproof through evidence or reasoning that undermines the claim. It is often associated with rigorous argumentation, scientific critique, or legal rebuttals rather than mere disagreement. Réfutation can be explicit, presenting data or logic, or implicit, by demonstrating inconsistent premises or faulty methodology. The related noun is réfutation.

See also: réfutation, réfutabilité, réfutable.