What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
disown
Example
The father decided to disown his son after he committed a crime. [disown: verb]
Example
She decided to disown her family's wealth and make her own way in the world. [disown: verb]
Example
He tried to disown his past mistakes and start over with a clean slate. [disown: verb]
disavow
Example
The politician disavowed any knowledge of the scandal. [disavowed: past tense]
Example
She disavowed the extremist views of her former political party. [disavowed: past participle]
Example
He disavowed his former mentor after discovering their unethical practices. [disavowed: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Disown is less common than disavow in everyday language. Disown is more specific and personal, while disavow is more versatile and can be used in a broader range of contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between disown and disavow?
Both disown and disavow are formal words that are typically used in serious or legal contexts. However, disown may have a stronger emotional connotation and be more associated with personal relationships, while disavow may be more associated with political or ideological contexts.
