reversals
|re-vers-als|
🇺🇸
/rɪˈvɝsəl/
🇬🇧
/rɪˈvɜːsəl/
(reversal)
change to opposite
Etymology
'reversal' originates from Middle English, specifically the word 'reversioun', which came via Old French 'revers' and Medieval Latin 'reversio', ultimately from Latin 'revertere' (from 're-' meaning 'back' + 'vertere' meaning 'to turn').
'reversal' changed from Old French 'revers' and Medieval Latin 'reversio' into Middle English 'reversioun', and this form eventually became the modern English word 'reversal'.
Initially it meant 'a turning back' or 'the act of returning', but over time it evolved to mean 'a change to an opposite state, position, or decision' in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the act of turning something the other way around; a physical or directional turning back.
The reversals of the machine's controls caused occasional jams on the line.
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Noun 2
a change to an opposite decision, position, or outcome (often used for decisions, rulings, or policies).
The company's repeated reversals on policy disappointed many customers.
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Last updated: 2025/12/20 01:54