retraction

[ri-trak-shuh n] /rɪˈtræk ʃən/
noun
1.
the act of retracting or the state of being retracted.
2.
withdrawal of a promise, statement, opinion, etc.:
His retraction of the libel came too late.
3.
retractile power.
Origin
1350-1400; Middle English retraccioun < Latin retractiōn- (stem of retractiō), equivalent to Latin retract(us) (see retract1) + -iōn- -ion
Related forms
nonretraction, noun
Examples from the web for retraction
  • Burr demanded a retraction or satisfaction on the field of honor.
  • He has resigned from the university, and his co-authors could not locate him to sign the retraction.
  • One would expect that his woodshed moment is coming and that a retraction will be issued soon.
  • The practice contributed to a retraction of related study earlier this year.
  • The goal is to get the publication to publish the retraction, usually cringing, as soon as possible.
  • The magazine's apology and retraction were carefully phrased-more so, it must be said, than the original item.
  • The retraction set off a firestorm in the blogosphere and on talk radio.
  • retraction below is clearly the more awesome solution.
  • The world lived with a verdant cosmos for three months, until the researchers issued a red-faced retraction.
  • The habitual retraction of the claws preserves their points from wear.
British Dictionary definitions for retraction

retraction

/rɪˈtrækʃən/
noun
1.
the act of retracting or state of being retracted
2.
the withdrawal of a statement, charge, etc
Word Origin and History for retraction
n.

late 14c., "withdrawal of an opinion," from Latin retractionem (nominative retractio) "a drawing back, hesitation, refusal," noun of action from past participle stem of retractare "revoke, cancel," from re- "back" (see re-) + tractere "draw violently," frequentative of trahere "to draw" (see tract (n.1)). Originally the title of a book by St. Augustine correcting his former writings. Meaning "recantation of opinion with admission of error" is from 1540s.

retraction in Medicine

retraction re·trac·tion (rĭ-trāk'shən)
n.

  1. The act of drawing back or in; shrinking.

  2. The act of pulling apart, usually as part of a surgical procedure.

  3. The posterior movement of teeth, usually with the aid of an orthodontic appliance.