renege

[ri-nig, -neg, -neeg]

verb (used without object)

reneged, reneging 

1. Cards.,  to play a card that is not of the suit led when one can follow suit; break a rule of play.

2. to go back on one's word.

   He has reneged on his promise.

verb (used with object)

reneged, reneging 

1. Archaic.,  to deny; disown; renounce.

noun

1. Cards.,  an act or instance of reneging.

renege

/ -ˈneɪɡ, rɪˈniːɡ /

verb

1. to go back (on one's promise, etc)

verb

1. cards other words for revoke

Other Word Forms

• reneger noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of renege¹

1540–50; earlier renegue < Medieval Latin renegāre, equivalent to re- re- + negāre to deny ( negative )

Word History and Origins

Origin of renege¹

C16 (in the sense: to deny, renounce): from Medieval Latin renegāre to renounce; see _renegade

Example Sentences

Liverpool couldn't envisage what was about to happen, however, as Palace effectively reneged on an agreement to sell, because of difficulty in signing an experienced replacement.

From BBC

No one wants to think about the millions of laboratory rodents and the thousands of macaques and other primates that will be euthanized because the government has reneged on their support.

From Salon

A week earlier, 24 states had filed suit against the administration for reneging on already appropriated education funding.

From Los Angeles Times

At the time he promised to hold elections the following year - but has since reneged, in a blow to efforts to restore multi-party rule in the West African state.

From BBC

He reneged on the U.S. government’s pledge to fund vaccinations for the world’s poorest kids.

From Salon

Related Words

• back out 
• default on www.thesaurus.com
• go back 
• go back on one's word www.thesaurus.com
• pull out 
• retract 
• reverse