tr.v., -lowed, -low·ing, -lows.
- To refuse to allow: "[The government] disallowed his aging and dying parents any reunion with their only child" (John Simon).
- To reject as invalid, untrue, or improper.
[Middle English disallowen, from Old French desalouer, to reprimand : des-, dis- + alouer, to approve; see allow.]
disallowable dis'al·low'a·ble adj.disallowance dis'al·low'ance n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
