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Synonyms

reversal

American  
[ri-vur-suhl] / rɪˈvɜr səl /

noun

  1. an act or instance of reversing.

  2. the state of being reversed.

  3. an adverse change of fortune; reverse.

  4. Law. the setting aside of a decision of a lower court by a higher court.

reversal British  
/ rɪˈvɜːsəl /

noun

  1. the act or an instance of reversing

  2. a change for the worse; reverse

    a reversal of fortune

  3. the state of being reversed

  4. the annulment of a judicial decision, esp by an appeal court on grounds of error or irregularity

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • prereversal noun

Etymology

Origin of reversal

First recorded in 1480–90; reverse + -al 2

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.

While vasectomies are considered long-term, many men hesitate to undergo the procedure, even though reversal surgery is sometimes possible.

From Science Daily • Apr. 7, 2026

The conflict’s geopolitical ripples have brought a lucrative reversal of fortune to U.S.-based chemical makers, which in recent years have been some of America’s most downtrodden companies.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

That alone should have had investors bracing for a reversal or even a correction.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

For the Nasdaq, that’s the largest reversal from an intraday low to positive territory since April 7, 2025.

From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026

In a determined reversal of her inherent nature, Kochu Maria now, as a policy, hardly ever believed anything that anybody said.

From "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy

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.