Rescind is a verb meaning to officiallyin a formal or authorized way, not casually or privately cancel, withdraw, or annulmake a decision or agreement invalid, as if it never happened something that was previously decided or agreed. It is often used in formal, legal, or administrativerelating to the management of an organization or system contexts.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /rɪˈsɪnd/
Easy pronunciation: rih-SIND (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress falls on the second syllable.
Verb: to officially cancel or withdraw something.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Rescind Meaning
to officially cancel something
Part of speech: verb
Definition: to officially cancel or withdraw a decision, law, rule, or agreement
Example: The company rescinded the policy after employees complained.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- annul — Works when a legal or official action is canceled.
- countermand — Means to cancel an order or instruction, usually in formal use.
- revoke — A strong substitute when something official is taken back.
- vacate — Used mainly for official decisions, orders, or judgments.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Rescind
Meaning 2
to call off or reverse an official action
Part of speech: verb
Definition: to cancel or reverse an action, order, or ruling
Example: The judge vacated the earlier ruling.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- overturn — Best when a ruling, decision, or result is reversed.
- reverse — Fits when a previous decision or action is changed to the opposite.
- repeal — Best when a law is formally canceled.
- lift — Works for removing an official restriction or ban.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Rescind Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- annul
- revoke
- vacate
to cancel or reverse an official action or ruling
- overturn
- reverse
- repeal
- lift
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Rescind is usually used for official decisions, rules, orders, or agreements, not for ordinary plans.
- It is more formal than everyday words like cancel or call off.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does rescind mean?
Rescind means to officially cancel or withdraw a decision, rule, law, or agreement.
What is a synonym for rescind?
Common synonyms include revoke, annul, and vacate, depending on the context.
Is rescind the same as cancel?
It is close, but rescind is more formal and usually refers to an official action or decision.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.