What does retractor mean?
A retractor is something that pulls, holds, or draws back another object. The word is used for mechanical mechanisms, as in a retractable pen, and for instruments that hold a cover, extension, or piece of material in a retracted position. In surgery, a retractor holds tissue or an organ aside so that a surgeon can see and work on the area beneath it. Some retractors are hand-held, while others are self-retaining and remain in place without continuous assistance. Outside technical contexts, the word can also refer generally to an object that withdraws or retracts. Retractor is related in origin to words such as retract, attraction, extraction, and contraction, all reflecting the idea of pulling or drawing back.
nounA device or instrument used to pull, hold, or draw something back, such as a retractable pen mechanism, a mechanical holder, or a surgical instrument used to expose an area of the body. The term can also refer more generally to something that retracts or withdraws.
- A device or instrument that pulls, holds, or draws something back.
- A surgical instrument used to hold back tissue or expose an operative area.
- Something that withdraws or retracts, especially a mechanical part or mechanism.
"The surgeon used a retractor to hold back the tissue while examining the wound."
"A small retractor keeps the needle from slipping out of the pen."
"The nurse adjusted the retractor so that the surgeon could see the damaged tendon."
Used when referring to more than one retractor, including individual surgical instruments or mechanical devices.
"The surgeon requested two retractors from the instrument tray."
A surgical retractor does not pull tissue back once and then release it; many are self-retaining, meaning they hold an opening in place by themselves while the surgeon works.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does retractor come from?
Retractor was formed in English from the Latin verb retractare, meaning “to pull back” or “withdraw.” That verb combines the Latin prefix re-, meaning “back” or “again,” with trahere, “to pull” or “draw.” Its related English words, including retraction, attraction, extraction, and contraction, reflect the same Latin root.
Related word forms
How retractor is actually used
In general writing, retractor is relatively uncommon and often sounds technical. It is especially established in mechanical, writing-instrument, and surgical contexts; in medicine, the precise type of retractor may be named by its function or design.
Easily confused with retractor
A retractor pulls or holds something back, whereas a tractor is a vehicle or machine used for pulling or hauling.