rejoined

Rejoined is the past tense and past participle of the verb rejoin. It denotes joining again after a separation, such as a member returning to a group or equipment reconnecting with a system. It can also mean to respond to a remark in a discussion, countering or answering an earlier statement.

Etymology and usage notes: The term is formed from the prefix re- meaning again, plus join. Its spelling follows ordinary English inflection, and the two senses—physical joining and verbal replying—are distinguished by context. In practice, both meanings are common in formal and informal writing.

Examples and nuance: In one sense, the word describes reunification, for example, “The team rejoined the project after the hiatus.” In the other sense, it describes a reply, as in “She rejoined with a witty retort.” When ambiguity could arise, natural phrasing or additional context clarifies whether the meaning is joining again or replying to a remark.

See also: rejoin, rejoinder, join, reunion.