rescind
To officially cancel or revoke a decision, law, or agreement
Examples
In a meeting
“The company decided to rescind the job offer after the background check.”
Over coffee
“They rescinded the invitation after we had already made plans.”
Why this word
cancel
rescind is the formal/legal term for officially revoking a law, order, or agreement, while cancel is informal and general
revoke
rescind emphasizes complete annulment making something void from the start, while revoke just means taking back
withdraw
rescind formally nullifies as if something never existed, while withdraw just means taking back or removing
Usage tip
Implies formal cancellation of something official—stronger than just 'cancel'
Etymology
Latin: rescindere (re- 'back' + scindere 'cut, split')
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Related words
negate
Cancel out or make ineffective
mandate
An official order or requirement to do something; to officially require.
invoke
To cite or appeal to something as authority or justification
enforce
To make sure a rule or law is obeyed
empower
To give someone the authority or confidence to do something
sanction
To officially approve or authorize something