decline the application

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "decline the application" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the decision to reject or not accept a submitted application, such as for a job, loan, or membership. Example: "After careful consideration, we have decided to decline the application submitted by Jane Doe for the marketing position."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

He met with her in October 2017, around the same time she sent a letter to Zinke urging him to decline the application.

The Guardian

From there, it takes under a minute to either approve or decline the application for financing in most cases.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The Ministry of Fisheries had declined the application and a lower court had decided the Ministry had grounds for the refusal on the basis of the Fisheries Management Act of 1990.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

According to court filings, the Trump Organization illegally declined the applications of minority applicants for apartments.

Huffington Post

After a decline in the application of slices in favor of the use of isolated hepatocytes, the development of the Krumdieck slicer in the 1980s led to a "comeback" of the technique enabling the production of reproducible and viable slices (Krumdieck et al. 1980).

Archives of Toxicology

So if a buyer put a roomful of new furniture on a credit card after going into contract on a new home, the bank could decide to decline the mortgage application at the last minute, Ms. Cohn said.

The New York Times

Conversely N, Zn, Fe, Cu and Cd contents in spinach declined with the application of manure amendment co-composted with increasing amount of leaf litter.

International Journal of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agriculture

A negative asylum decision means that if a person's claim for international protection has been rejected in one Member State, and he or she subsequently claims asylum in another Member State, the second Member State is entitled to decline to examine the application.

European Parliament

As an increasing number of customers abandon Blackberries for other smartphone devices and the number of users in the Blackberry network declines, the BBM application becomes less and less valuable because there are fewer contacts to communicate with.

Cornell University

Charles Stillman, a lawyer for Mr. Velella, declined to discuss the application process except to say, "We are satisfied that Guy Velella's release was done in a lawful way by a responsible agency of government".

The New York Times

America's tyre-makers, who have more or less given up making low-end tyres at home in favour of importing them (often from joint-ventures in guess where) declined to support the application for import "relief".

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When communicating the decision to "decline the application", provide a clear and concise reason for the denial to maintain transparency and professionalism.

Common error

Avoid using overly ambiguous language when declining an application. Be specific about the reasons for rejection to prevent confusion and potential disputes.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "decline the application" functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of rejecting or refusing an application. As Ludwig AI explains, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "decline the application" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase, though relatively rare in occurrence. As Ludwig AI highlights, it conveys the action of rejecting a formal request. It is most commonly found in news, science, and formal business contexts, with a neutral to professional register. For alternatives, consider "reject the application" or "refuse the application". When using the phrase, ensure clear and concise communication of the reasons for the decline to maintain transparency.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Reject the application

Rejection is a direct synonym with "decline", so the whole meaning remains.

Refuse the application

Refusal carries a similar meaning of non-acceptance.

Turn down the application

Uses a phrasal verb with similar meaning.

Deny the application

Denial implies a refusal to grant something requested.

Not approve the application

Expresses the lack of approval, avoiding direct refusal.

Dismiss the application

Suggests a lack of consideration or merit.

Disapprove the application

Expresses disagreement with the application.

Decline to process the application

Focuses on the action of not processing, a softer form of rejection.

Put aside the application

Means to postpone or ignore the application, which effectively declines it.

Shelve the application

Means to postpone or abandon the application, which effectively declines it.

FAQs

What does it mean to "decline the application"?

To "decline the application" means to reject or refuse to accept the application. It indicates that the application has not been approved.

What can I say instead of "decline the application"?

You can use alternatives like "reject the application", "refuse the application", or "turn down the application" depending on the context.

Is it rude to "decline the application"?

The politeness depends on the context and how it's communicated. Providing a clear explanation can soften the impact. You can also say "not approve the application".

What are common reasons to "decline the application"?

Common reasons include not meeting the required qualifications, incomplete information, or a high volume of qualified applicants. The specific reason must be included in the message.