English Reference
Verb

rescind

v.
C1 Advanced US /ɹiˈsɪnd/ UK /ɹɪsˈɪnd/ re·scind UK spelling rescinded, rescinds

v.to officially cancel or take back a decision, contract, or law. You use this when a formal agreement is no longer valid.

v.to formally cancel or repeal a contract, law, or decision. Transitive — requires a direct object representing the legal or formal instrument being revoked.


SIMPLE

The company decided to rescind the offer after the candidate failed the background check.

CONTEXTUAL

The government announced it would rescind the new tax policy following widespread public protests and negative media coverage.

COMPLEX

Legal experts warned that the board's attempt to rescind the merger agreement might face significant challenges if the other party could prove they relied on the original terms in good faith.

US Agriculture Department says rescinding 2001 rule will help reduce wildfire risk and return control to local managers.

Al Jazeera· 18 Aug 2026

Reform's leadership will have to decide whether it is more politically difficult to rescind rather than to retain Montgomerie's party membership.

BBC News· 19 Aug 2026

From the Latin rescindō (“I cut back”), from re- (“back”) + scindō (“I cut”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated