noun
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a reply or response to a question or remark, esp a quick witty one; retort
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law (in pleading) the answer made by a defendant to the claimant's reply
Synonym Usage
See answer.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of rejoinder
1475–85; < Middle French rejoindre (noun use of infinitive); see rejoin 2
Explanation
A rejoinder usually means a witty comeback. If someone asks you a silly question like, "Are you painting?" when you are holding a paint can and a brush, your rejoinder could be, "No, I'm just doing my nails." The word rejoinder comes from the Middle French word rejoindre, which meant to answer a legal charge. The meaning of a witty retort developed from the legal meaning. You often think of the best rejoinders long after the crucial moments have passed, which can be really frustrating.
Vocabulary lists containing rejoinder
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The common defense against an accusation of unkindness — let's call it the Jerk's Rejoinder — is some version of, “You're too sensitive,” or, “You can't take a joke.”
From Washington Post • Jan. 14, 2022
Rejoinder to the churl the king disdain'd, But shook his head, and rising wrath restrain'd.
From The Odyssey by Pope, Alexander
Feb. 6, 1916; "Tests of Home Trade Volume—a Rejoinder," March 6, 1916; "Home Trade Volume," March 20, 1916, p.
From The Value of Money by Anderson, Benjamin M.
The reason why this Rejoinder had not already appeared has now to be stated.
From The Life of John Milton, Volume 5 (of 7), 1654-1660 by Masson, David
Then, for the 7,800th Time, by way of Mirth-Provoking Rejoinder, Zendavesta kicked Zoroaster in the Stomach, after which the Slap-Stick was introduced as a Sub-Motive.
From Fables in Slang by Newman, Clyde J.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
