refutation

Noun

• the act of determining that something is false

• any evidence that helps to establish the falsity of something

• the speech act of answering an attack on your assertions
  • his refutation of the charges was short and persuasive
    
  • in defense he said the other man started it
    

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  falsification , falsifying , disproof , refutal , defense , defence