Rejoinder

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ɹɪˈd͡ʒɔɪndɚ/

Definitions

1. A reply, often in response to a remark or criticism, that clarifies, rebuts, or provides further commentary
2. An assertion made to counter a previous statement or question, showcasing a conversational exchange
3. A response that serves to engage in dialogue, typically addressing an argument or point made earlier

Etymology: "Rejoinder" began life as a legal term. In Middle English it appeared as "rejonder" and "rejoynder," borrowed from Middle French "rejoindre," meaning "to join again" or "to reunite." Its use as a noun grew out of the infinitive form, which was used as a noun in Law French, the variety of French once used in English courts. In that setting it named a defendant's reply to a plaintiff's answer, a formal move in a pleading that returned the dispute to its opening terms. The word is a doublet of "rejoin," which came into English through the same French verb but took a different route, keeping the sense of answering back in ordinary speech. Both words carry the idea of rejoining, of bringing one speaker's statement back together with another's. "Rejoinder" kept closer ties to its legal origins, which is why the sense of a reply in argument or conversation sits so comfortably with it today.

Synonyms: response, reply, retort

Antonyms: question, inquiry