# refuse

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈɹɛfjuːs/ · frequency rank #3,718

## Definitions
1. Discarded, rejected.

## Etymology
Borrowed into late Middle English from Middle French refusé, past participle of refuser (“to refuse”). Displaced native Middle English wernen (“to refuse”)

## Easily confused with
- **ruse** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/refuse-vs-ruse)
- **Reus** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/refuse-vs-reus)
- **reuse** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/refuse-vs-reuse)
- **Rufus** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/refuse-vs-rufus)
- **rouse** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/refuse-vs-rouse)
- **revue** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/refuse-vs-revue)
- **Remus** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/refuse-vs-remus)
- **revise** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/refuse-vs-revise)
- **refute** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/refuse-vs-refute)
- **résumé** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/refuse-vs-resume)
- **repose** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/refuse-vs-repose)
- **repute** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/refuse-vs-repute)
- **refused** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/refuse-vs-refused)
- **refs** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/refs-vs-refuse)
- **Reese** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reese-vs-refuse)
- **reduce** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reduce-vs-refuse)
- **refund** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/refund-vs-refuse)
- **refuge** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/refuge-vs-refuse)
- **refine** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/refine-vs-refuse)
- **rebuke** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rebuke-vs-refuse)

## Common misspellings (8)
`erfuse`, `reffuse`, `refsue`, `refues`, `refusse`, `reufse`, `rfeuse`, `rrefuse`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/refuse