deniability

American

[dih-nahy-uh-bil-uh-tee] / dɪˌnaɪ əˈbɪl ə ti /

noun

the ability to deny something, as knowledge of or connection with an illegal activity.

First recorded in 1970–75; deniable + -ity

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"Plausible deniability is only plausible until it isn't," he posted on X.

From BBC

“I don’t care about plausible deniability. We’re married, so it’s not like I’m testifying.”

From Literature

And plausible deniability doesn’t sound so good, either.

From Literature

Separately, the emails your brother and/or her lawyer sent you could give them plausible deniability.

From MarketWatch

“It’s not only hiding. It’s trying to create a wall around himself, to create this plausible deniability,” Higgins said.

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023