Retort

Retort

Verb / Noun · /rɪˈtɔːt/ · a sharp, clever reply made in response to criticism or an accusation

Definition

To retort is to respond quickly and sharply — usually with wit, irritation, or both. The reply hits back at something said, often matching the tone of the original remark or exceeding it. As a noun, a retort is that reply itself: a quick, biting comeback that leaves the original speaker with little to add. The word implies speed, sharpness, and often a degree of satisfaction — the retort lands.

Origin

From Latin retorquere — to twist back, to hurl back. The prefix re- means back and torquere means to twist or to wrench. It entered English in the 16th century, first as a legal and rhetorical term for turning an argument back on its maker. Over time it broadened to cover any quick, sharp verbal response — especially one that wins the exchange. The image of twisting something back is still felt in the word: a retort returns force with force.