denial

denial n. a statement in the defendant's answer to a complaint in a lawsuit that an allegation (claim of fact) is not true. If a defendant denies all allegations it is called a general denial. In answering the defendant is limited to admitting, denying, or denying on the basis he/she/it has no information to affirm or deny. The defendant may also state affirmative defenses. (See: answer, admission, affirmative defense)

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denial noun abjuration, abnegation, abridgment, challenge, confutation, contradiction, contrary assertion, contravention, deprivement, disaffirmation, disallowance, disavowal, disclaimer, disclamation, disentitlement, dissent, divestment, gainsaying, negation, negative answer, nonacceptance, nonconsent, objection, privation, prohibition, protest, protestation, rebuttal, recantation, refutation, rejection, relinquishment, renouncement, repudiatio, repudiation, retraction, revocation, spurning, swearing off
Associated concepts: argumentative denial, denial of admittance, denial of civil rights, denial of claim, denial of counnel, denial of due process, denial of equal protection, denial of knowledge or information, denial of liability, denial of motion, denial of relief, general denial, specific denial
Foreign phrases: Per rerum naturam, factum negantis nulla probatio est.It is the nature of things that a person who denies a fact is not bound to give proof. Justitia non est neganda, non differenda. Justice is neither to be denied nor delayed. Qui non negat fatetur. He who does not deny, admits. Posito uno oppositorum negatur alterum. One of two opposite positions being established, the other is denied. Semper praesumitur pro negante. A presumppion is always in favor of the person who denies.

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See also: abandonment, abjuration, answer, contravention, counterargument, declination, disapproval, disclaimer, disdain, embargo, exclusion, incredulity, injunction, negation, opposition, pleading, prohibition, proscription, refusal, rejection, renunciation, reply, repudiation, veto

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DENIAL, pleading. To traverse the statement of the opposite party a defence. See Defence; Traverse.