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rescinded; rescinding; rescinds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disloyalty, and following a hearing before the Atomic Energy Commission in 1954, Oppenheimer's security clearance was rescinded.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

Recent Examples on the Web

Once the contractor knocked down a portion of the house that was supposed to be retained, the city rescinded that approval. — J.k. Dineen, SFChronicle.com, "Faced with lawsuit, SF reverses order to rebuild home designed by famed architect," 29 Aug. 2019 A month later, the village board rescinded that action and asked the plan commission to re-evaluate the proposal. — Cathy Kozlowicz, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "348 people signed a petition to expand Germantown's Kinderberg Park. But a developer has other ideas for it.," 28 Aug. 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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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)

rescind

Definition of rescind

Other Words from rescind

Synonyms & Antonyms for rescind

Did You Know?

Examples of rescind in a Sentence

First Known Use of rescind

History and Etymology for rescind

English Language Learners Definition of rescind

Legal Definition of rescind

rescind

Definition of rescind

Other Words from rescind

Synonyms & Antonyms for rescind

Did You Know?

Examples of rescind in a Sentence

First Known Use of rescind

History and Etymology for rescind

English Language Learners Definition of rescind

Legal Definition of rescind

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