[+ object]

1 a . to say that something is not true

• He denied the report that he would be quitting his job.
• She denies all the charges that have been made against her.
• I don’t deny that I have made some mistakes. [=I admit that I have made some mistakes]

b . to refuse to accept or admit (something)

• You can’t deny her beauty. = You can’t deny that she is beautiful.
• She denied responsibility [=she said that she was not responsible] for the error.

2 . to refuse to give (something) to someone : to prevent someone from having or receiving (something)

• The banks denied [=refused] them credit.
• The judge denied their request.
• I don’t want to deny them this pleasure. = I don’t want to deny this pleasure to them.
• a government that denies its citizens basic freedoms