rejoinder

noun

re·​join·​der ri-ˈjȯin-dər How to pronounce rejoinder (audio)
Synonyms of rejoindernext
1
: the defendant's answer to the plaintiff's replication
2
: reply
specifically : an answer to a reply

Synonyms

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 
Choose the Right Synonym for rejoinder

answer, response, reply, rejoinder, retort mean something spoken, written, or done in return.

answer implies the satisfying of a question, demand, call, or need.

had answers to all their questions

response may imply a quick or spontaneous reaction to a person or thing that serves as a stimulus.

a response to the call for recruits

reply often suggests a thorough response to all issues, points, or questions raised.

a point-by-point reply to the accusation

rejoinder can be a response to a reply or to an objection.

a salesman with a quick rejoinder to every argument

retort implies a reaction to an implicit or explicit charge, criticism, or attack which contains a countercharge or counterattack.

she made a cutting retort to her critics

Examples of rejoinder in a Sentence

The article was a stinging rejoinder to her critics. he always has a smart-aleck rejoinder to everything
Recent Examples on the Web Downey’s multiple roles also feel like a rejoinder to Hollywood’s treatment of Asian characters and actors as interchangeable. —Judy Berman, TIME, 10 Apr. 2024 But once Trump chimed in, Biden was quick with a rejoinder. —Zeke Miller, Fortune, 22 Mar. 2024 This Odd Couple-style plot could be the perfect canvas for McEntire’s sarcastic jokes and Peterman’s rejoinders. —Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 20 Mar. 2024 Dismiss her brevity as cuteness and vibes, but her concision feels like an artful rejoinder to our daily data glut. —Chris Richards, Washington Post, 2 Feb. 2024 Advertisement The deft tribute provoked more than a few chuckles and tears and heartfelt rejoinders, some shared with the Slay family and others broadcast on social media, about the previously obscure Matt Slay. —James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 23 Dec. 2023 Even his commercial images are a rejoinder to the industry’s interest in using the body as a vehicle for platforming clothes. —Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 12 Dec. 2023 The Israeli head of state was describing his nation’s horror over the Hamas attack on Oct. 7 when the pope issued a blunt rejoinder. —Louisa Loveluck, Washington Post, 30 Nov. 2023 In an apparent rejoinder to the wave of hostage posters, some pro-Palestinian activists in New York and other cities have displayed flyers showing pictures of people killed in the Gaza Strip amid Israel’s aggressive military campaign there. —Daniel Arkin, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rejoinder.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English rejoiner, from Anglo-French rejoinder, from rejoinder, verb

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rejoinder was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near rejoinder

rejoin

rejoinder

rejoindure

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Rejoinder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rejoinder. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.

Copy Citation

Share

Kids Definition

rejoinder

noun
re·​join·​der ri-ˈjȯin-dər How to pronounce rejoinder (audio)
: reply entry 2
especially : an answer to a reply

Legal Definition

rejoinder

noun
re·​join·​der ri-ˈjȯin-dər How to pronounce rejoinder (audio)
: an answer to a reply
specifically : the defendant's answer to the plaintiff's reply or replication under common-law pleading
Etymology

Anglo-French, from rejoindre rejoinder to make rejoinder, literally, to join again, meet, from Old French, from re- again + joindre to join

More from Merriam-Webster on rejoinder

Nglish: Translation of rejoinder for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See All

Your vs. You're: How to Use Them Correctly

Every Letter Is Silent, Sometimes: A-Z List of Examples

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Absent Letters That Are Heard Anyway
See All

Popular in Wordplay

See All

The Words of the Week - Apr. 19

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)

A Great Big List of Bread Words

10 Scrabble Words Without Any Vowels

12 More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See All

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game You can make only 12 words. Pick the best ones!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A crossword with a twist
winning words from the national spelling bee logo
Spelling Bee Quiz Can you outdo past winners of the National Spelli...