rescind

verb

re·​scind ri-ˈsind How to pronounce rescind (audio)
rescinded; rescinding; rescinds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 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.

Examples of rescind in a Sentence

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disloyalty, and following a hearing before the Atomic Energy Commission in 1954, Oppenheimer's security clearance was rescinded.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 Eventually, the Navy rescinded its ban.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The navy rescinded its ban on women sailors. The company later rescinded its offer.
Recent Examples on the Web Burton was announced as the new host of the 2023 ceremony after the National Book Foundation rescinded initial host Drew Barrymore’s invitation. Carly Tagen-Dye, Peoplemag, 18 Nov. 2023 At the time, NBC News had learned from two sources that Baldwin and the special prosecutors had discussed his taking a plea deal but that it was rescinded in the days before their announcement. Chloe Melas, NBC News, 16 Nov. 2023 The governor protested to the War Department and Wallace had to rescind the order. Anna Deavere Smith, The Atlantic, 13 Nov. 2023 Finance chiefs at companies big and small have been urging Congress to rescind the law. Mark Maurer, WSJ, 10 Nov. 2023 Republicans took aim at the funding immediately upon taking control of the House this year, voting to rescind the money in a bill that died in the Senate. Abigail Hauslohner, Washington Post, 2 Nov. 2023 Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect that the shelter-in-place policy has been rescinded, effective Saturday. Simon Montlake, The Christian Science Monitor, 27 Oct. 2023 Zibby Owens posted an essay on Tuesday on Substack, explaining why her multimedia company, Zibby Media, had rescinded its National Book Award donation. Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 16 Nov. 2023 The latest ruling, announced Wednesday by the Supreme Court, effectively rescinds the financial penalties imposed on UBS in December 2021. Mauro Orru, WSJ, 15 Nov. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rescind.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of rescind was in 1579

Podcast

Dictionary Entries Near rescind

Cite this Entry

“Rescind.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rescind. Accessed 11 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

rescind

verb
re·​scind ri-ˈsind How to pronounce rescind (audio)
1
: cancel sense 2a
rescind a contract
2
: to do away with by legislative action
rescind a law
rescinder noun
rescindment noun

Legal Definition

rescind

verb
re·​scind ri-ˈsind How to pronounce rescind (audio)

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

More from Merriam-Webster on rescind

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!