Kenneth G. Wilson (1923–). The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. 1993.
refute (v.)
Refute has two Standard meanings: “to deny the accuracy of” and “to disprove, to demonstrate the error of.” Each of these can be used of an argument or, loosely, of a person. In the sense “to deny the truth of,” as in We refuted his allegations, refute has sometimes been criticized by commentators, but it is in regular use in that sense in Standard American English; British English still frowns on it. See CONFUTE.
