Retractada

Retractada is the feminine form of the past participle of the Spanish verb retractar. It is used to indicate that something has been withdrawn, taken back, or reversed, typically in formal or legal contexts. As a modifier, retractada can describe statements, declarations, documents, promises, or other items that have undergone retraction. In technical or scientific writing, it may also appear to describe processes or states where a structure or item has been drawn back or reduced.

Etymology and form: retractada derives from retractar, which comes from Latin retractare, formed by the prefix re- (back, again) and tractare (to handle, to treat). The feminine form aligns with Spanish agreement rules, so retractada modifies feminine nouns (for example, una declaración retractada).

Usage notes: The term is more common in formal, legal, or official discourse. In everyday language, speakers often use alternatives such as retirar, rectificar, or retractar in infinitive form, or prefer the noun retractación or la declaración retractada when appropriate. The choice of term can depend on regional habits and the exact nuance (withdrawal, correction, denial, or reversal).

Examples:

- La declaración fue retractada por el testigo.

- La acusación recibió una retractación oficial tras la revisión de los hechos.

See also: retractar, retractación, retirar, rectificar.