retraction
noun
re·trac·tion
ri-ˈtrak-shən 
1
: an act of recanting
specifically
: a statement made by one retracting
2
: an act of retracting : the state of being retracted
3
: the ability to retract
Examples of retraction in a Sentence
His charges were false, and he was forced to make a retraction.
the retraction of the plane's landing gear
Recent Examples on the Web
Lownie and HarperCollins' decision follows reports that Melania’s lawyer, Alejandro Brito, sent a letter to Biden on Aug. 6, demanding a full retraction of an interview.
—
Charna Flam, People.com, 21 Aug. 2025
To my mind, this is the most disturbing part of the retractions saga: the chaos, uncertainty, disrespect, and bullying, devoid of any underlying moral or philosophical reasoning.
—Elizabeth Kaye Cook
august 6, Literary Hub, 6 Aug. 2025
In a blog post on Thursday, Science's executive editor, Valda Vinson, and Editor-in-Chief Holden Thorp explained the retraction by saying that Science's criteria for issuing a retraction have evolved since 2010.
—Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 25 July 2025
Last Friday, Yahoo Sports reported on attorneys Jeffrey Kessler and Steve Berman—the duo representing the plaintiff athletes and class members—sending a letter to the NCAA and power conferences demanding retraction of a guidance issued last Thursday by the College Sports Commission (CSC).
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 15 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for retraction
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Charna Flam, People.com, 21 Aug. 2025
To my mind, this is the most disturbing part of the retractions saga: the chaos, uncertainty, disrespect, and bullying, devoid of any underlying moral or philosophical reasoning.
—Elizabeth Kaye Cook
august 6, Literary Hub, 6 Aug. 2025
In a blog post on Thursday, Science's executive editor, Valda Vinson, and Editor-in-Chief Holden Thorp explained the retraction by saying that Science's criteria for issuing a retraction have evolved since 2010.
—Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 25 July 2025
Last Friday, Yahoo Sports reported on attorneys Jeffrey Kessler and Steve Berman—the duo representing the plaintiff athletes and class members—sending a letter to the NCAA and power conferences demanding retraction of a guidance issued last Thursday by the College Sports Commission (CSC).
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 15 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for retraction
Cite this Entry
“Retraction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/retraction. Accessed 1 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
retraction
noun
re·trac·tion
ri-ˈtrak-shən
1
: a statement taking back something previously said
2
: an act of retracting : the state of being retracted
3
: the ability to retract
Medical Definition
retraction
noun
re·trac·tion
ri-ˈtrak-shən
: an act or instance of retracting
specifically
: backward or inward movement of an organ or part
retraction of the nipple or skin overlying the tumor —The Journal of the American Medical Association
The Journal of the American Medical Association Legal Definition
retraction
noun
re·trac·tion
ri-ˈtrak-shən
: an act of taking back or withdrawing
retraction of a confession
her retraction of the defamatory statement
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