rejoin

Rejoin is a verb with several related senses centered on joining again after a separation. The primary meaning is to become part of a group or location again after having been away. It can also describe returning to a discussion or debate by offering a reply to a preceding point. In everyday language, one might say, “We rejoined the others at the campsite,” or “She rejoined the discussion after a brief pause.”

Etymology and related forms: Rejoin comes from Old French rejoindre, built from re- (again) and joindre (to join). The past tense form is rejoined, as in “They rejoined the conversation.” The noun form most often used for a reply to an objection is rejoinder or, less commonly, rejoiner.

Usage in rhetoric and discourse: In debate or courtroom contexts, a rejoiner is a concise, relevant reply to an argument or accusation. The term rejoin is more common as a verb, while rejoinder remains the standard noun for the response itself. A well-crafted rejoiner aims to address the point directly and efficiently.

Computing and modern communication: In informal modern usage, rejoin is used to describe reconnecting to a chat, video conference, or network session after a disconnect. While not a specialized technical term, it appears in user guidance and communication platforms to denote reestablishing association with a thread or session.

See also: rejoinder, reunion, join.