refuted

Refuted is the past participle of refute and, in general usage, an adjective describing a claim, hypothesis, theory, or argument that has been shown to be false, invalid, or unsupported by evidence.

In logic and philosophy, a refutation demonstrates that a line of reasoning is unsound or that a proposition contradicts established facts. A successful refutation undermines the basis of the claim rather than merely opposing it.

In science, claims are refuted when new data or experiments contradict prior results or interpretations. In law, a case may be refuted by opposing arguments or evidence during proceedings.

Refuted statements may still be revised or qualified; refutation does not always mean absolute truth, as absence of evidence against a claim does not constitute proof. Robust refutations rely on consistent, reproducible evidence.

The term derives from Latin refutare, meaning to drive back. Related terms include refute, counterexample, falsify, disprove, and rebuttal, which describe processes of challenging or denying propositions.