noun

rebuttal

/rɪˈbʌtəl/ · say it: rih·BUH·tuhl

a counterargument

In Debate & Persuasion

In more detail

1. (noun) a spoken or written response that argues against a claim or statement made by someone else

2. (noun) the act of arguing against something

Examples

1. The lawyer presented a strong rebuttal to the prosecution's accusations.
2. The team's rebuttal to the referee's decision was dismissed.

How to use rebuttal

A rebuttal is a formal or structured argument presented to contradict or disprove a previous statement, often in debate, law, or academic contexts. It is more formal and deliberate than a simple reply, implying a counter-argument with evidence or reasoning. The term often carries an implication of directly addressing and challenging specific points.

Common phrases

mount a rebuttal
offer a rebuttal
strong rebuttal
legal rebuttal
rebuttal to the claim

Synonyms

refutation · counterargument · response · rejoinder · reply

Word family

rebut (verb) · rebuttal (noun)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse rebuttal with refutation; while related, refutation emphasizes successful disproval of a claim, whereas rebuttal simply refers to the act of arguing against it, regardless of outcome.

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