retraction

[ ri-trak-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act of retracting retract or the state of being retracted. retract.
2. withdrawal of a promise, statement, opinion, etc.:

   His retraction of the libel came too late.

3. retractile power.

Other Words From

• nonre·traction noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of retraction¹

1350–1400; Middle English retraccioun < Latin retractiōn- (stem of retractiō ), equivalent to Latin retract ( us ) ( retract ¹ ) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

Critics said the retraction had come under pressure from powerful politicians who used the incident to mobilise the Rajput community for “vote-bank politics”.

From BBC

When do these so-called experts publish their retractions or are they still drinking the Riley Kool-aid?

From Los Angeles Times

They also said they gave Narvaez “multiple opportunities” to either correct or retract her statements, and the filing includes an April 2 letter from Jackson’s team demanding a retraction.

From Los Angeles Times

The court also ordered the presidency to publish a retraction, according to a judgment seen by AFP news agency, in a case brought by the Bolsonaros.

From BBC

However, protesters on Thursday called for an immediate retraction of this statement.

From BBC

Related Words

• annulment
• denial
• disavowal
• disclaimer
• repudiation
• reversal

More About Retraction

What is a retraction?

Retraction is the withdrawal of a statement or promise, such as in a news story. When a news outlet gets facts wrong in a story, they publish a retraction that states what facts were wrong and what the correct facts are.

In general, retraction is the act of pulling something back, such as the retraction of a payment (taking the payment back).

Example: If this turns out to be true, we’ll have to issue a retraction about last week’s issue.

Where does retraction come from?

The first records of the term retraction come from around 1350. It ultimately comes from the Latin retractiōn. It combines the term retract, meaning “to draw back,” with the suffix –ion, which creates nouns from verbs, like legion and opinion.

The main use of retraction defines a physical or digital retraction written with the intent of correcting misinformation in a previous work coming from the same source as the work it references.

Retraction can also describe the act of physically pulling something in toward oneself or reeling in a line, but it’s not very common outside of science and medicine.

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to retraction?

• nonretraction (noun)

What are some synonyms for retraction?

• annulment
• contradiction
• reversal
• withdrawal
• disavowal

What are some words that share a root or word element with retraction? 

• retract
• tract

What are some words that often get used in discussing retraction?

• agreement
• fact
• false
• promise
• publication

What are some words retraction may be commonly confused with?

• redaction

How is retraction used in real life?

Retraction is usually used to refer to correcting something incorrect or false.

Any retraction in the news should have to be in the same space as the original headline, not in the bottom corner.

— Trevor Noah (@Trevornoah) May 12, 2017

I'd like to make an official retraction! #H50 has not been officially renewed for a 10th season yet. I got wrapped up in all the excitement and misspoke in a live interview. It happens, I'm human. I apologize for any misleading information. But fingers crossed!!!!!! Mahalo:)

— Michelle Borth (@michelleborth) April 18, 2019

RETRACTION! For live tweeting, the hashtag is #MindyPremiere! I'm so embarrassed of my earlier mistake

— Mindy Kaling (@mindykaling) September 16, 2014

 

 

Try using retraction!

Is retraction used correctly in the following sentence?

A tortoise’s retraction of its head into its shell is a defense mechanism.