/ri trak"sheuhn/ , n.
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.
[ 1350-1400; ME retraccioun retraction- (s. of retractio ), equiv. to L retract ( us ) (see RETRACT 1 ) + -ion- -ION ]