repudiation

Repudiation refers to the act of rejecting, renouncing, or denying something that one previously supported or is obligated to uphold. It can apply to beliefs, claims, contracts, debts, or affiliations. In everyday language, repudiation may denote a formal renunciation of a statement, policy, or authority, or a refusal to acknowledge responsibility for an action.

In contract law, repudiation is a party’s clear indication that they will not perform as required under a contract. It may be an express statement or conduct that makes performance impossible. Anticipatory repudiation occurs when one party communicates before the due date that they will not perform. The non-breaching party may treat the repudiation as an immediate breach, suspend performance, or wait and sue for damages when performance would have been due.

Repudiation of a debt is the act of refusing to honor a financial obligation. It may be a conscious decision by a debtor or a failure by a government or entity to meet payment terms. In many jurisdictions, repudiation can precipitate default, penalties, or other legal consequences.

In political and social contexts, repudiation can refer to a rejection of a policy, party, or government, or to a formal disavowal of actions or promises. The term is also used in religious or ethical discourse to denote the rejection of a belief or practice.

In information security, repudiation describes denial by a sender of having sent a message or by a signer of having performed a transaction. Non-repudiation mechanisms—such as digital signatures and audit logs—are used to prevent such denial.