rescind
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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rescindsimple
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rescindssimple
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have rescindedperfect
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has rescindedperfect
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am rescindingprogressive
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are rescindingprogressive
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is rescindingprogressive
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have been rescindingperfect progressive
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has been rescindingperfect progressive
Past
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rescindedsimple
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had rescindedperfect
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was rescindingprogressive
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were rescindingprogressive
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had been rescindingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of rescind
First recorded in 1630–40; from Latin rescindere “to tear off again, cut away,” equivalent to re- re- + scindere “to tear, divide, destroy”
Explanation
If you get a call saying a company has decided to rescind your job offer, it's back to the classifieds for you. Rescind means "to cancel or revoke." Things that are rescinded: policies, court decisions, regulations, and official statements. What all these examples have in common is that they are on the record. Also, rescind usually refers to promises instead of tangible objects. You can't rescind a shirt a friend has borrowed from you, but you can rescind your offer to loan her your jeans.
Vocabulary lists containing rescind
Night
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300 Most Difficult "SAT" Words
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The Crucible
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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.
FIFA’s decision to rescind Folarin Balogun’s one-game suspension for the red card he received against Bosnia-Herzegovina strengthens U.S. chances for advancing.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 6, 2026
The agency's director-general Gilbert Houngbo "has decided to rescind the appointment of the deputy director-general, considering continued delays in the payment of arrears", the ILO said in a statement.
From Barron's • Jun. 1, 2026
The court can dismiss trustees and rescind POAs when there is evidence of incompetence, negligence or misuse of a position.
From MarketWatch • May 25, 2026
"I would quite like the British Government to rescind it. I don't think he should have it".
From BBC • May 22, 2026
Even at that point, in 1957, the Food and Drug Administration could not instantly rescind the tolerance which allowed residues of a known carcinogen to contaminate food consumed by the public.
From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson
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.
