rescind

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verb re·scind \ ri-ˈsind \

Definition of rescind

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

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rescinder

noun

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rescindment

play \-ˈsin(d)-mənt\ noun

See rescind defined for English-language learners

See rescind defined for kids

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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disloyalty, and following a hearing before the Atomic Energy Commission in 1954, Oppenheimer's security clearance was rescinded.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 Eventually, the Navy rescinded its ban.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The navy rescinded its ban on women sailors.
The company later rescinded its offer.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 of rescind from the Web

Following the investigation, which could be completed in as little as a few months, the United States could impose steep tariffs on Chinese imports, rescind licenses for Chinese companies to do business in the United States, or take other measures.

— keith bradsher, New York Times, "Trump Administration Is Said to Open Broad Inquiry Into China’s Trade Practices," 1 Aug. 2017
Former Carolina Panthers cornerback Josh Norman, being introduced before Carolina’s January 2016 game against Seattle, left for Washington three months later after general manager Dave Gettleman rescinded Norman’s franchise tag.

— joseph person and scott fowler, charlotteobserver, "Inside story of how stunning firing of Panthers GM Dave Gettleman unfolded," 21 July 2017
Under pressure from the national union, Local 2455 was forced at the last minute to rescind the invitation.

— joshua green, Daily Intelligencer, "Steve Bannon Is Out of Trump’s Doghouse and Leading the Charge Against Mueller," 9 July 2017
Rescinding WOTUS and reverting back to the 1986 regulation would maintain the status quo and avoid that confusion, the Trump EPA proposal argues.

— ariel wittenberg, Science | AAAS, "Trump will try to sidestep science in rolling back clean water rule," 28 June 2017
The Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers on Tuesday outlined a process for rescinding a 2015 regulation that defines which waterways are covered under the Clean Water Act.

— john flesher and michael biesecker, chicagotribune.com, "Trump administration moves to withdraw clean-water rule," 27 June 2017
The Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers on Tuesday outlined a process for rescinding a 2015 regulation that defines which waterways are covered under the Clean Water Act.

— Washington Post, "Trump administration moves to withdraw clean-water rule," 27 June 2017
After the officials conferred, the call was rescinded with Acosta staying in the game.

— marc narducci, Philly.com, "Picault, Blake lead Union to 1-0 win over D.C. United," 24 June 2017
The council rejected a resolution in January that Councilman Ben Zahn proposed that sought to settle the suit and rescind the 2015 law.

— littice bacon-blood, NOLA.com, "Political consultant's lawsuit against Jefferson Parish dismissed," 23 June 2017

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.

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.

Origin and Etymology of rescind

Latin rescindere to annul, from re- + scindere to cut — more at shed

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1579

See Words from the same year

rescind Synonyms

Synonyms

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

Antonyms

continue, keep

Related Words

abrogate, annul, invalidate, nullify, void, write off; recant, retract, take back, withdraw; countermand, reverse, roll back; break off, discontinue, end, halt, stop, terminate; hold back, interrupt, suspend; give up, relinquish, surrender

Near Antonyms

engage, pledge, promise; begin, commence, initiate, start; take on, take up, undertake

RESCIND Defined for English Language Learners

rescind

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verb

Definition of rescind for English Language Learners

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

Law Dictionary

rescind

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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