Gainsaying
noun, verb ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Definitions
- 1 Opposition, especially in speech.
"This gainsaying may take numberless forms: [...]"
- 2 Refusal to accept or believe something.
"So that it is best to take this meaning here, and understand, that an oath puts an end to all gainsaying by confirming the matter one way, in which all parties consent [...]"
- 3 Contradiction.
"There is no gainsaying this logic."
- 4 Denial; denying.
"But there was no gainsaying the wisdom of the advice which he had given me as to concealing the treasure."
- 5 Rebellious opposition; rebellion. archaic, obsolete
"Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core."
- 1 present participle and gerund of gainsay form-of, gerund, participle, present
Example
More examples"You must mind that I be a-talking of the college life. 'Em lives on a lofty level; there's no gainsaying it, though I myself med not think much of 'em."
Etymology
From Middle English gaynesayenge, ȝeinseiing, ȝeinsegging, equivalent to gainsay + -ing.
From gainsay.
More for "gainsaying"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.