retraction

American  

[ri-trak-shuhn] / rɪˈtræk ʃən /

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.

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Usage

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.

Other Word Forms

• nonretraction noun

Etymology

Origin of retraction

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

Example Sentences

“Do they do retractions? New editions? Do they look at other leaders in the movement who’ve been eclipsed by César Chávez?”

From Los Angeles Times

“The mentioned criticism of my research has been addressed through formal peer-review processes, with retraction requests denied by the journal. My papers are factual, balanced, rigorous, and accurately contextualize the findings.”

From Salon

Instead, its partial retraction is "rescued" by the rapid pace of early embryonic cell cycles.

From Science Daily

Beijing, which considers Taiwan issues a strictly internal matter, immediately demanded a retraction, but Takaichi defended her comments as a reflection of Japan’s longstanding—albeit usually unspoken—policy.

From The Wall Street Journal

Almost immediately after Takaichi's remarks, Beijing responded with a flurry of condemnation and demanded a retraction.

From BBC

Related Words

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