retraction

noun

re·​trac·​tion ri-ˈtrak-shən 

1

: an act of recanting

specifically : a statement made by one retracting

2

: an act of retracting : the state of being retracted

3

: the ability to retract

Examples of retraction in a Sentence

His charges were false, and he was forced to make a retraction.

the retraction of the plane's landing gear

Recent Examples on the Web

His letter demanding a retraction helps demonstrate the scale of support for Dorje Chang’s movement by wealthy true believers. —Joseph Bien-Kahn, Rolling Stone, 3 Nov. 2024

Express Scripts has since sued over the report, calling for a retraction. —Maya Goldman, Axios, 21 Oct. 2024

Her colleagues were notified, and journal editors who had published her work were contacted about the various data infidelities, as a first step to retraction. —Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 12 Sep. 2024

In the lawsuit, Loomer also claimed that Real Time rejected a retraction and apology, and declined a request that she be invited to appear on the show. —Ted Johnson, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

retraction

noun

re·​trac·​tion ri-ˈtrak-shən 

1

: a statement taking back something previously said

2

: an act of retracting : the state of being retracted

3

: the ability to retract

Medical Definition

retraction

noun

re·​trac·​tion ri-ˈtrak-shən 

: an act or instance of retracting

specifically : backward or inward movement of an organ or part

retraction of the nipple or skin overlying the tumor

—The Journal of the American Medical Association

Legal Definition

retraction

noun

re·​trac·​tion ri-ˈtrak-shən 

: an act of taking back or withdrawing

retraction of a confession

her retraction of the defamatory statement