rescission

UK: rɪˈsɪʒən | US: rɪˈsɪʒən

Definition
  1. n. the act of rescinding; the cancellation or repeal of a law, contract, or agreement.

Structure
re <back>sciss <cut>ion <noun suffix>
Etymology

rescission = re<back> + sciss<cut> + ion<noun suffix>

  • re: Latin prefix meaning "back" or "again."
  • sciss: Derived from Latin scindere ("to cut, split"), reflecting the idea of severing or undoing.
  • ion: Suffix forming nouns indicating an action or process.

Etymology Origin:
The word traces back to Latin rescissio ("a cutting back, annulment"), from rescindere ("to cut off, abolish"). The morpheme sciss (from scindere) conveys the core idea of cutting, while re- emphasizes reversal. Over time, rescission evolved in legal contexts to denote the formal undoing of agreements, preserving its original logic of "cutting back" obligations.

Examples
  1. The court ordered the rescission of the contract due to fraudulent misrepresentation.

  2. Rescission of the policy left many employees without coverage.

  3. The buyer sought rescission of the sale after discovering hidden defects.

  4. Mutual rescission allowed both parties to terminate the agreement amicably.

  5. Legal rescission requires proof of a material breach.