rescind

verb

re·scind | \ ri-ˈsind

rescinded; rescinding; rescinds

Definition of rescind

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disloyalty, and following a hearing before the Atomic Energy Commission in 1954, Oppenheimer's security clearance was rescinded.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 Eventually, the Navy rescinded its ban. — Randall Samborn, National Law Journal, 14 Jan. 1991 The navy rescinded its ban on women sailors. The company later rescinded its offer.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

Minnesota’s largest government agency continued to resemble a revolving door on Wednesday, as its two top deputies rescinded their resignations after the commissioner and his chief of staff announced their departures. — Ryan Faircloth, Twin Cities, "Minnesota DHS deputies rescind resignations after Lourey and chief of staff quit," 17 July 2019 The show faced backlash this year after organizers rescinded an innovation award for the massager by the startup company Lora DiCarlo. — Washington Post, "Sex tech in, skimpy outfits out as CES show seeks diversity," 16 July 2019 Babbitt declared it a state holiday in Arizona — only to have that decision rescinded in 1987 by Gov. Evan Mecham, a conservative who argued that Babbitt didn’t have the authority to single-handedly declare a state holiday. — Ian James, azcentral, "He took down dams, freed wolves and preserved wildlands. Bruce Babbitt is still at work," 14 July 2019 Woodstock 50’s original venue, Watkins Glen International, rescinded the event's permit application on June 10 with less than 70 days to go. — Taylor Mims, Billboard, "Update: Woodstock 50 New Location Permit Appeal Rejected," 11 July 2019 Then Martinson said he was notified on June 28 that ONU was rescinding its job offer, citing complaints that his novel contained profanity and other elements that conflict with the school’s religious doctrine. — Chicago Tribune Staff, chicagotribune.com, "Daywatch: A loaded gun gets into Cook County Jail, what to eat at Taste of Chicago and other things to know to start your day," 11 July 2019 Meanwhile, Congress is considering legislation that would rescind 20 Medals of Honor awarded to U.S. soldiers for the 1890 Wounded Knee massacre, in which nearly 300 Native Americans were killed on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. — Tatiana Sanchez, SFChronicle.com, "As tensions flare over monuments, universities target California’s mission past," 4 July 2019 Alumni, students, and the public demanded that Harvard rescind those fellowships, but the university declined. — Deirdre Fernandes, BostonGlobe.com, "Governor during Flint, Mich., water crisis won’t take Harvard fellowship following backlash," 3 July 2019 Among the slots to fill are 157 appointments originally made by Scott and rescinded by DeSantis, but who remain serving on the boards. — Gray Rohrer, orlandosentinel.com, "DeSantis still has 300 key appointments to make, six months after taking office," 1 July 2019

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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Last Updated

23 Jul 2019

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The first known use of rescind was in 1579

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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)