detransfer

Detransfer is a term used to describe the reversal of a transfer, in which a prior relocation, assignment, or state change is undone or rolled back. The term is not widely standardized and its precise meaning depends on the context. In some uses, detransfer refers to returning a person, resource, or data to its original owner or location after a transfer. In others, it may refer to reversing policy or organizational changes that followed a transfer.

In gender identity contexts, the related term is usually detransition, and detransfer is rarely used; when it appears, it may denote undoing a transfer of care, records, or documentation rather than the gender change itself.

In data management or computing, detransfer can describe undoing an initial data transfer, such as moving data back to its original location or state after migration or backup operations. In education or organizational administration, detransfer may refer to returning a student or employee to their previous assignment after a transfer.

Terminology around detransfer is not standardized, and readers should rely on context to determine meaning. Some authors use phrases like reversal of transfer, undo transfer, or reassignment to convey similar ideas. Due to its varied usage, detransfer is typically clarified in terms of the domain and the specific elements being reversed.

See also: detransition, transfer, data migration, reverse logistics, reassignment, undo.