reversal
/rɪˈvəːs(ə)l
/noun
1A change to an opposite direction, position, or course of action: a dramatic reversal in population decline in the Alps [mass noun]: the reversal of tidal currents...
- The data therefore chronicle a dramatic reversal in the direction of invasion.
- Clearly, such a reversal of the current course would not be achievable overnight.
- The mayor's comments marked a reversal of his previous position on the issue.
Synonyms
turnaround, turnround, turnabout, about-face, volte-face, change of heart, U-turn, sea change, swing, shift, swerve, backtracking, rowback;
British about-turn
rare tergiversation
swap, exchange, change, swapping, trade, trading, interchange, transposition, inversion
alteration, changing;
countermanding, undoing, setting aside, upsetting, overturning, overthrow, disallowing, overriding, overruling, veto, vetoing, repudiation, revocation, repeal, abrogation, cancellation, rescinding, rescindment, annulment, nullification, voiding, invalidation, negation, quashing;
withdrawal, recanting, retraction
archaic recall
rare rescission, disannulment
1.1 Law An annulment of a judgement, sentence, or decree made by a lower court or authority: a reversal by the House of Lords of the Court of Appeal’s decision...
- All they can achieve, they assume, is the preservation of a clean trial record for appeal, and the reversal of the trial court ruling.
- After three trials on separate charges arising out of the original events, resulting in three guilty verdicts, three appeals court reversals, and one acquittal, Cortez was finally convicted of murder.
- The reversal in the Supreme Court turned on the application of s.2 of the Charter.
1.2An adverse change of fortune: the champions suffered a League reversal at Gloucester last month...
- Last night O'Sullivan suffered a similar reversal, just as he had done in the 1997 final against Steve Davis.
- Tony Blair and Mr Brown had made clear beforehand they would not implement the review but the reversals were the first suffered by the Labour leadership at the conference since a revolt over pensions two years ago.
- But the party suffered serious reversals Feb. 25, when it lost all of four state-level elections.
Synonyms
setback, reverse, upset, check, non-success, failure, misfortune, mishap, misadventure, accident, disaster, tragedy, catastrophe, blow, disappointment, adversity, hardship, affliction, vicissitude, defeat, rout;
ill luck, bad luck, distress, tribulation, woe, hard times
British informal car crash
2 [mass noun] Photography Direct production of a positive image from an exposed film or plate; direct reproduction of a positive or negative image: [as modifier]: a black-and-white reversal kit...
- Liam states that pinholes do not occur with reversal processing of lith film, but we included a water bath anyway since it doesn't take long.
- This was a ‘five lights’ production filmed on 16 mm reversal stock because they couldn't afford better.
- Since super-8 film is reversal stock like slide film, I had never thought a super-8 negative could exist.
Origin
Late 15th century (as a legal term): from reverse + -al.