rescind

verb

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re·scind | \ ri-ˈsind

rescinded; rescinding; rescinds

Definition of rescind

transitive verb

1 : to take away : remove

2a : 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

Other Words from rescind Synonyms & Antonyms Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about rescind

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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 second half of the 16th century, and prescind (from praescindere) and exscind (from exscindere) followed in the mid-17th century. Exscind means "to cut off" or "to excise," and prescind means "to withdraw one's attention," but neither appears frequently in contemporary English. Of the three borrowings, only rescind established itself as a common English term. You might hear of someone rescinding a contract or an offer, or of 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disloyalty, and following a hearing before the Atomic Energy Commission in 1954, Oppenheimer's security clearance was rescinded.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 Eventually, the Navy rescinded its ban. — Randall Samborn, National Law Journal, 14 Jan. 1991 The navy rescinded its ban on women sailors. The company later rescinded its offer.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 But advocates expect legal challenges ahead, including over five states that have voted to rescind their ratification. — Becky Jacobs, The Salt Lake Tribune, "Utah’s candidates for lieutenant governor talk about COVID-19, police reform, abortion and the gender wage gap," 2 Oct. 2020 The Auburn City Council on Thursday voted to rescind the local order restricting walk-up service in the city’s bars. — Howard Koplowitz | Hkoplowitz@al.com, al, "Auburn City Council lifts order restricting walk-up bar service," 2 Oct. 2020 The 15-member State and Public School Life and Heath Insurance Board also voted to rescind its Aug. 5 decision to require about Medicare-member state retirees to purchase their pharmaceutical coverage through the Medicare Part D market. — Michael R. Wickline, Arkansas Online, "Medicare-member state retirees get choice on pharmacy coverage," 29 Sep. 2020 This summer, 36 years later, and in the midst of another pandemic, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted to rescind the ban on bathhouses. — Ryan Kost, SFChronicle.com, "Bathhouse ban revoked: Amid one pandemic, San Francisco confronts legacy of another," 12 Sep. 2020 On Thursday, Dillard President William Kimbrough called on Jefferson Parish Schools Superintendent James Gray to rescind the suspension and apologize to Ka Mauri's family. — Faimon Roberts, NOLA.com, "Jeff Landry to investigate case of 4th grader suspended over BB gun in virtual classroom," 25 Sep. 2020 The attorneys asked the court to rescind the zone change the developers got from Southgate. — Julia Fair, The Enquirer, "Fire victim descendants sue Southgate over Beverly Hills Supper Club site development," 17 Sep. 2020 Haverstick, acting director of the Pentagon's Defense Media Activity, said a formal memo is being drafted that will rescind the order to halt publication by Sept. 30, and dissolve the organization by the end of January. — CBS News, "Pentagon rescinding order to shutter Stars and Stripes newspaper," 11 Sep. 2020 Haverstick, acting director of the Pentagon's Defense Media Activity, said a formal memo is being drafted that will rescind the order to halt publication by Sept. 30, and dissolve the organization by the end of January. — Lolita C. Baldor, Star Tribune, "Pentagon rescinding order to shutter Stars and Stripes paper," 10 Sep. 2020

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

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More Definitions for rescind

rescind

verb

English Language Learners Definition of rescind

formal : to end (a law, contract, agreement, etc.) officially : to say officially that (something) is no longer valid

See the full definition for rescind in the English Language Learners Dictionary

rescind

verb

re·scind | \ ri-ˈsind

Legal Definition of rescind

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)