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rescinded; rescinding; rescinds
2
b
: to abrogate (a contract) and restore the parties to the positions they would have occupied had there been no contract
rescinder
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
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disloyalty, and following a hearing before the Atomic Energy Commission in 1954, Oppenheimer's security clearance was rescinded.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 Eventually, the Navy rescinded its ban.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The navy rescinded its ban on women sailors.
The company later rescinded its offer.
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 Eventually, the Navy rescinded its ban.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The navy rescinded its ban on women sailors.
The company later rescinded its offer.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
House Republicans kicked off this year by passing a bill that would rescind nearly $71 billion that Congress had provided the IRS.
—Susan Tompor, USA TODAY, 12 Jan. 2023
The Supreme Court’s ruling has had impacts in states beyond New York, as other states that previously had similar concealed carry laws in place have also been forced to adjust or rescind their policies.
—Alison Durkee, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2023
House Republicans kicked off this year by passing a bill that would rescind nearly $71 billion that Congress had provided the IRS.
—Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press, 11 Jan. 2023
Employers would also be required to rescind existing noncompetes and inform their staff that the clauses are no longer in effect.
—Chloe Taylor, Fortune, 6 Jan. 2023
Defense Bill: Congress passed a $858 billion defense bill that would rescind the coronavirus vaccine mandate for troops and increase the defense budget $45 billion over President Biden’s request.
—Edward Wong, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2023
Generous rains allowed Phoenix to rescind water use restrictions in October, and the heavy precipitation continued into March.
—Douglas C. Towne, The Arizona Republic, 18 Nov. 2022
The decision to prevent Smith from testifying created a firestorm that forced UF administrators to rescind it and launch an investigation into ethics policies and rules about taking on work outside of one’s academic duties.
—Jeffrey Schweers, Orlando Sentinel, 7 Oct. 2022
When the president issued an executive order revoking all licenses for private gun ownership in Nigeria in 2019, some lawmakers asked him to rescind it, citing citizens’ need for self-defense in the face of insecurity.
—Alexander Onukwue, Quartz, 27 June 2022
See More
Susan Tompor, USA TODAY, 12 Jan. 2023
The Supreme Court’s ruling has had impacts in states beyond New York, as other states that previously had similar concealed carry laws in place have also been forced to adjust or rescind their policies.
—Alison Durkee, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2023
House Republicans kicked off this year by passing a bill that would rescind nearly $71 billion that Congress had provided the IRS.
—Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press, 11 Jan. 2023
Employers would also be required to rescind existing noncompetes and inform their staff that the clauses are no longer in effect.
—Chloe Taylor, Fortune, 6 Jan. 2023
Defense Bill: Congress passed a $858 billion defense bill that would rescind the coronavirus vaccine mandate for troops and increase the defense budget $45 billion over President Biden’s request.
—Edward Wong, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2023
Generous rains allowed Phoenix to rescind water use restrictions in October, and the heavy precipitation continued into March.
—Douglas C. Towne, The Arizona Republic, 18 Nov. 2022
The decision to prevent Smith from testifying created a firestorm that forced UF administrators to rescind it and launch an investigation into ethics policies and rules about taking on work outside of one’s academic duties.
—Jeffrey Schweers, Orlando Sentinel, 7 Oct. 2022
When the president issued an executive order revoking all licenses for private gun ownership in Nigeria in 2019, some lawmakers asked him to rescind it, citing citizens’ need for self-defense in the face of insecurity.
—Alexander Onukwue, Quartz, 27 June 2022
See More
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.
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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Dictionary Entries Near rescind
Cite this Entry
“Rescind.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rescind. Accessed 6 Feb. 2023.
Kids Definition
Legal Definition
rescind
verb
re·scind
ri-ˈsind 
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
: to rescind something (as a contract)
rescindable
adjective
-ˈsin-də-bəl
More from Merriam-Webster on rescind
Nglish: Translation of rescind for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of rescind for Arabic Speakers
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