What does unsaying mean?
Unsaying is an uncommon English word for the act of retracting a statement, or taking back something one has said. It is closely related to unsay and conveys a formal, sometimes literary or legal idea of withdrawal rather than simply remaining silent. In its most typical use, it appears as a noun, particularly in phrases such as “the unsaying of a statement,” and it may be countable when discussing a particular retraction. The word can also function as a participial adjective describing words or actions that withdraw or disavow earlier statements. Because it sounds somewhat old-fashioned and is much less frequent than retraction, withdrawal, or recantation, it is most likely to occur in formal prose, literary analysis, or discussion of public apologies and reversals. Unsaying is especially memorable because it isolates the unusual idea that speech can be undone by a later act of retraction.
The act of retracting or taking back something previously said; a retraction.
"The unsaying of the claim caused a stir in the ministry."
Most often used in formal or literary prose; the plural unsayings is uncommon.
Retracting, disavowing, or taking back what has been said.
"His unsaying statement reopened the question of responsibility."
Usually encountered in extended formal prose, particularly in references to public retractions or reversals.
The plural is rare; unsaying is more often used as an uncountable noun.
"Across his career, he treated each public retraction as one of his rare unsayings."
To unsay is rare, but it captures the striking idea that even spoken words can sometimes be withdrawn.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does unsaying come from?
Unsaying is an English formation built from un- and saying, with un- carrying the sense “undoing” or “reversing.” The same productive prefix appears in unsay and in formations such as unsayable and unsaid, where it withdraws or reverses the force of say. The verb unsay and its present participle are now chiefly literary, formal, or rhetorical, while unsaying is also used as a noun for a retraction.
Related word forms
How unsaying is actually used
Rare and somewhat literary or formal in contemporary English, it is most often encountered in discussion of retractions, reversals, and apologies. The nominal use may be mass or countable, although the plural is uncommon.
Easily confused with unsaying
Unsaid describes something left unspoken, whereas unsaying refers to actively retracting or taking back something already said.