Rejection
rih-JEK-shun
/rɪˈdʒɛkʃən/
The act of refusing to accept or consider something, or the state of being refused.
In college admissions, it means being denied a place at the institution. It's a definitive 'no.'
The story behind the word. 'Rejection' comes from the Latin verb reicere, meaning 'to throw back.' It's formed from re- ('back') and jacere ('to throw'). So, when an application faces 'rejection,' it's literally being 'thrown back' by the institution, indicating it won't be considered further for admission.
Word relationships
- Denial: refusal to grant or allow
- Refusal: the act of saying no to an offer or request
- Dismissal: sending away or putting aside, often implying unworthiness
- Acceptance: the act of being admitted or welcomed
- Approval: agreement or permission
Commonly confused with
- Refusal: 'Rejection' is typically a passive outcome (being refused); 'refusal' is an active act of refusing something.
Word family
- Reject (verb): to dismiss as inadequate or unacceptable
- Rejecting (adjective): showing refusal or dismissal
Collocations
- rejection letter
- outright rejection
- receive a rejection
- face rejection
- fear of rejection
Example sentences
- "Despite her strong application, she received a rejection letter from her dream school." Negative outcome for an applicant.
- "Experiencing rejection is a normal part of life and can be a powerful motivator." General life lesson.
- "The high number of rejections reflected the intense competition for limited spots." Statistical measure.
Memory hook
A REJECTION letter feels like your application was RE-JECTED (thrown back) at you. Reject and throw back.
When not to use
While 'rejection' can be used in many contexts (e.g., 'rejection of an idea'), in college admissions, it specifically means denial of entry.
Fun facts
- Many successful people, including authors and scientists, faced numerous rejections before achieving their goals.
- Some universities do not send physical rejection letters, opting for email notifications or portal updates.
Related words
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