recant

[ri-kant]

verb (used with object)

1. to withdraw or disavow (a statement, opinion, etc.), especially formally; retract.

   Synonyms: deny, rescind, recall, revoke

verb (used without object)

1. to withdraw or disavow a statement, opinion, etc., especially formally.

recant

/ ˌriːkænˈteɪʃən, rɪˈkænt /

verb

1. to repudiate or withdraw (a former belief or statement), esp formally in public

Other Word Forms

• recantation noun
• recanter noun
• recantingly adverb
• unrecanted adjective
• unrecanting adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of recant¹

1525–35; < Latin recantāre to sing back, sing again, equivalent to re- re- + cantāre, frequentative of canere to sing; chant

Word History and Origins

Origin of recant¹

C16: from Latin recantāre to sing again, from _re- + cantāre to sing; see _chant

Example Sentences

Some of the alleged victims recanted earlier statements detailing violence.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Baroness Lawrence said: "Any person who expresses views like these and does not recant is an obvious danger to society and must remain in custody."

Read more on BBC

The incident brought public scrutiny to the university’s police department but ended when Perkins recanted the story.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But in a 2008 interview with a US historian, she recanted the statement, reportedly saying: "That part's not true."

Read more on BBC

Attorney General Pam Bondi said she had valuable and salient Epstein information sitting on her desk, but she later recanted when she was apparently told to do so.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• annul 
• back down 
• back off 
• backtrack 
• contradict 
• disavow 
• disown 
• renege 
• renounce 
• repudiate 
• rescind 
• retract 
• revoke 
• take back