reversion

[ri-vur-zhuhn, -shuhn]

noun

1. the act of turning something the reverse way.

2. the state of being so turned; reversal.

3. the act of reverting; return to a former practice, belief, condition, etc.

4. Biology.

   1. reappearance of ancestral characters that have been absent in intervening generations.

   2. return to an earlier or primitive type; atavism.

5. Law.

   1. the returning of an estate to the grantor or the grantor's heirs after the interest granted expires.

   2. an estate which so returns.

   3. the right of succeeding to an estate.

6. Archaic.,  the remains, especially of food or drink after a meal.

reversion

/ rɪˈvɜːʃən /

noun

1. a return to or towards an earlier condition, practice, or belief; act of reverting

2. the act of reversing or the state of being reversed; reversal

3. biology

   1. the return of individuals, organs, etc, to a more primitive condition or type

   2. the reappearance of primitive characteristics in an individual or group

4. property law

   1. an interest in an estate that reverts to the grantor or his heirs at the end of a period, esp at the end of the life of a grantee

   2. an estate so reverting

   3. the right to succeed to such an estate

5. the benefit payable on the death of a life-insurance policyholder

Other Word Forms

• reversionally adverb
• nonreversion noun
• reversionary adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of reversion¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin reversiōn- (stem of reversiō ) a turning back. See reverse, -ion

Example Sentences

Instead, since most active stock-focused mutual funds are benchmarked to broad indexes, a significant deviation from the benchmarks may suggest a reversion back in the future.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Paulsen thinks this newer paradigm is here to stay, and so bears expecting a mean reversion may be disappointed.

Read more on MarketWatch

Perhaps we will see some mean reversion with last week’s spinning top candle.

Read more on Barron's

Analysts expect a reversion, with quality stocks, including IBM, Cisco, and Dell, poised to rebound due to attractive valuations and strong growth.

Read more on Barron's

As a country we cannot allow a reversion back to Jim Crow racism and discrimination.

Read more on Salon