rescind

verb

re·​scind ri-ˈsind 

rescinded; rescinding; rescinds

transitive verb

1

: to take away : remove

2

a

: take back, cancel

refused to rescind the order

b

: to abrogate (a contract) and restore the parties to the positions they would have occupied had there been no contract

3

: to make void by action of the enacting authority or a superior authority : repeal

rescind an act

rescinder noun

rescindment

ri-ˈsin(d)-mənt 

noun

Did you know?

Rescind and the lesser-known words exscind and prescind all come from the Latin verb scindere, which means "to cut" or "to split." Rescind was adapted from its Latin predecessor rescindere in the 16th century, and prescind (from praescindere) and exscind (from exscindere) followed in the next century. Exscind means "to cut off" or "to excise," and prescind means "to withdraw one's attention," but of the three borrowings, only rescind established itself as a common English term. Today, rescind is most often heard in contexts having to do with someone rescinding a contract or an offer, or with a legislative body rescinding a law.

Synonyms

• abandon
• abort
• call
• call off
• cancel
• cry off
• drop
• recall
• repeal
• revoke
• scrap
• scrub

Example Sentences

The enemies these efforts made for him concocted charges of disloyalty, and following a hearing before the Atomic Energy Commission in 1954, Oppenheimer's security clearance was rescinded. —Kai Bird et al., Smithsonian, Aug. 2005

But Maria convinced Leverich that she had the authority to rescind the executor's decision to appoint him as biographer. —John Lahr, New Yorker, 19 Dec. 1994

The Navy barred its personnel from his church, but he challenged the decree in federal court as a constitutional violation of freedom of religion. Eventually, the Navy rescinded its ban. —Randall Samborn, National Law Journal, 14 Jan. 1991

The navy rescinded its ban on women sailors.

The company later rescinded its offer.

Recent Examples on the Web

Oath Keepers founder sentenced to 18 years for role in Jan. 6 attack White House debt ceiling offer would cap spending, rescind COVID funds In: High School Texas Caitlin O'Kane Caitlin O'Kane is a digital content producer covering trending stories for CBS News and its good news brand, The Uplift. —Caitlin O'kane, CBS News, 25 May 2023

That group has collected about 400 signatures on a petition asking Mayor Muriel E. Bowser to rescind the District’s ban on swimming in the Potomac. —Scott Dance, Washington Post, 17 May 2023

The 6-1 decision released Tuesday by the state's highest court overturned a Dane County judge's 2020 ruling that determined the measure was improperly enacted and should be rescinded. —Molly Beck, Journal Sentinel, 16 May 2023

The council Tuesday is expected to take up her motion asking city Planning Director Vince Bertoni to consider rescinding the initiation of a general plan amendment for the project. —Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 16 May 2023

The new complaint references legislation passed last week by Florida lawmakers that rescinds agreements that Disney and a previous oversight board consisting of Disney supporters made earlier this year, giving the entertainment giant control over design and construction at Disney World. —Mike Schneider, Fortune, 9 May 2023

President Joe Biden recently ordered the deployment of an additional 1,500 U.S. troops to the border in the lead up to May 11, when the covid-19 restrictions that kept many asylum seekers from entering the country, known as Title 42, will be rescinded. —Matt Novak, Forbes, 4 May 2023

The family made waves for attending en masse in 2022, but rumors began to swirl in early 2023 about their invites being rescinded when Page Six reported that the family was cut from the guest list. —Seventeen, 2 May 2023

Garcia voted in favor of Perrone’s appointment and has spoken in support of him since his offer was rescinded. —Adria Watson, BostonGlobe.com, 1 May 2023

See More

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French rescinder "to reduce, cut, cancel, break (a contract)," borrowed from Latin rescindere "to remove or lay bare by hewing and cutting, cut or tear open, cancel, annul," from re- re- + scindere "to split, cleave, separate" — more at shed entry 1

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

rescind

verb

re·​scind ri-ˈsind 

1

: cancel sense 2a

rescind a contract

2

: to do away with by legislative action

rescind a law

rescinder noun

rescindment

-mənt 

noun

Legal Definition

rescind

verb

re·​scind ri-ˈsind 

transitive verb

1

: to take back and make void

rescinded its suspension of his license

2

: to abrogate (a contract or transaction) by mutual agreement, judicial decree, or unilateral declaration because of fraud, mistake, duress, misrepresentation, illegality, a breach, or another sufficient ground with both parties restored to their positions before the contract was made compare cancel, terminate

3

: to make void by the same or by a superior authority

rescind a regulation

intransitive verb

: to rescind something (as a contract)

rescindable

-ˈsin-də-bəl

adjective

Etymology

Latin rescindere to cut loose, annul, from re- away, back + scindere to cut, split