1. The express or tacit abandonment of a right without transferring it to another.
2. Wills & estates. The act of waiving a right under a will. • At one time, one renounced an inheritance by intestacy and disclaimed a gift by will. Today disclaim is common in both situations. — Also termed (in sense 2) disclaimer. See RIGHT OF ELECTION. Cf. DISCLAIMER. [Cases: Descent and Distribution 72; Wills 717. C.J.S. Descent and Distribution §§ 69, 77, 116; Wills§§ 1708–1710, 1713–1717.]
3. Criminal law. Complete and voluntary abandonment of criminal purpose — sometimes coupled with an attempt to thwart the activity’s success — before a crime is committed. • Renunciation can be an affirmative defense to attempt, conspiracy, and the like. Model Penal Code § 5.01(4). — Also termed withdrawal; abandonment. [Cases: Criminal Law 31.10. C.J.S. Criminal Law §§ 122, 136.]
4. See anticipatory repudiation under REPUDIATION. — renunciative, renunciatory, adj. — renounce, vb.
