University leaders retired unpaid, sans affirmation (8)
I believe the answer is:
unavowed
'university leaders retired unpaid sans affirmation' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.
'university leaders retired unpaid' is the wordplay.
'university' becomes 'U' (abbreviation for university).
'leaders' becomes 'van' (I've seen this in other clues).
'retired' says the letters should be written in reverse.
'unpaid' becomes 'owed' (similar in meaning).
'van' backwards is 'nav'.
'u'+'nav'+'owed'='UNAVOWED'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for unavowed that I've seen before include "secret" , "Not openly declared" , "not being admitted" .)