recant

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verb re·cant \ri-ˈkant\

Definition of recant

transitive verb
1 : to withdraw or repudiate (a statement or belief) formally and publicly : renounce
2 : revoke
intransitive verb
: to make an open confession of error

recantation

play \ˌrē-ˌkan-ˈtā-shən\ noun

See recant defined for English-language learners

See recant defined for kids

Examples of recant in a Sentence

Church officials asked the minister to recant.
Witnesses threatened to recant their testimony when the court released their names to the paper.

Recent Examples of recant from the Web

There are too many complicated issues at play, like true victims recanting because of external pressure, or cases being dropped for lack of evidence.

— lilly dancyger, Glamour, "Inside the Organizations That Support Accused Campus Rapists," 14 July 2017
McMillan had submitted a plea agreement in February, but recanted his admissions, which prompted the judge to set the case for trial.

— ruth ann krause, Post-Tribune, "Father sentenced to 48 years in death of infant son," 11 July 2017
Earlier this year, McMillan submitted a plea agreement, but recanted his admission of guilt.

— ruth ann krause, Post-Tribune, "Gary dad convicted in infant's death," 30 June 2017
Dadayev originally confessed to the shooting, but later recanted, claiming he was tortured into giving the confession.

— yasmeen serhan, The Atlantic, "Convictions in the Murder of Boris Nemtsov," 29 June 2017
Dassey later recanted, claiming his confession had been coerced.

— chris harris, PEOPLE.com, "Court Rules the Confession of Making a Murderer's Brendan Dassey Was Coerced — But Will He Go Free?," 23 June 2017
After initially telling police that his brother was responsible for the crime, Melvin Galle later recanted and testified at a November 2016 hearing that Keith Galle, 36, was not involved in the near-fatal holdup.

— ken daley, NOLA.com, "Irish cop shot in New Orleans gets suspended sentence for punching 2 women in Ireland," 22 June 2017
Every member of that trio has recanted his testimony.

— andrea simakis, cleveland.com, "Attoneys for death-row inmate Tyrone Noling ask Ohio Supreme Court to allow DNA testing of 27-year-old evidence," 20 June 2017
In 2004, after a series of interviews with students from the Medill Innocence Project, Vicente recanted his testimony, saying Guevara had fed him the story.

— megan crepeau, chicagotribune.com, "2nd lawsuit alleges concealed evidence and coercion to win murder conviction," 19 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'recant.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of recant

Latin recantare, from re- + cantare to sing — more at chant

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1535

See Words from the same year

Synonym Discussion of recant

abjure, renounce, forswear, recant, retract mean to withdraw one's word or professed belief. abjure implies a firm and final rejecting or abandoning often made under oath. abjured the errors of his former faith renounce may carry the meaning of disclaim or disown. renounced abstract art and turned to portrait painting forswear may add an implication of perjury or betrayal. I cannot forswear my principles recant stresses the withdrawing or denying of something professed or taught. if they recant they will be spared retract applies to the withdrawing of a promise, an offer, or an accusation. the newspaper had to retract the story

RECANT Defined for English Language Learners

recant

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verb

Definition of recant for English Language Learners

: to publicly say that you no longer have an opinion or belief that you once had

Law Dictionary

recant

play

transitive verb re·cant \ri-ˈkant\

Legal Definition of recant

: to renounce or withdraw (prior statements or testimony) surprised the prosecution by recanting statements made earlier to the police
intransitive verb