reversal - Dictionary Definition : Vocabulary.com

A reversal is a change of decision or direction, often to the opposite. You liked history, but thought you'd major in business because there were more jobs. Then you took an economics class and hated it. So in a reversal, you majored in history after all.

In legal terms, a reversal is when a high court decides the decision of a lower court is incorrect and should be overturned. In a reversal, the Supreme Court overturned the guilty verdict of the lower court, and the prisoner was set free. A setback or a change in circumstances for the worse is also a reversal. If you make poor investments, you may suffer a reversal in fortune and go from shopping for designer clothes to shopping at thrift stores.

PRIMARY MEANINGS OF: reversal

1	n	the act of reversing the order or place of
2	n	a major change in attitude or principle or point of view
3	n	an unfortunate happening that hinders or impedes; something that is thwarting or frustrating

FULL DEFINITIONS OF: reversal

1

n the act of reversing the order or place of

Synonyms:: transposition

Type of:: reordering
a rearrangement in a different order

n turning in the opposite direction

Synonyms:: reverse, reversion, turnabout, turnaround

Types:: about turn, about-face
act of pivoting 180 degrees, especially in a military formation; u-turn
complete reversal of direction of travel

Type of:: change of direction, reorientation
the act of changing the direction in which something is oriented

n turning in an opposite direction or position

“the reversal of the image in the lens”

Synonyms:: turn around

Type of:: turn, turning
a movement in a new direction

n a change from one state to the opposite state

“there was a reversal of autonomic function”

Types:: regress, regression, retrogression, retroversion, reversion
returning to a former state

Type of:: change of state
the act of changing something into something different in essential characteristics

2

n a major change in attitude or principle or point of view

Synonyms:: about-face, policy change, volte-face

Types:: undoing
an act that makes a previous act of no effect (as if not done)

Type of:: change
the action of changing something

n a decision to reverse an earlier decision

Synonyms:: change of mind, flip-flop, turnabout, turnaround

Types:: afterthought, reconsideration, rethink, second thought
thinking again about a choice previously made

Type of:: deciding, decision making
the cognitive process of reaching a decision

n a judgment by a higher court that the judgment of a lower court was incorrect and should be set aside

Antonyms:: affirmation
a judgment by a higher court that the judgment of a lower court was correct and should stand

Type of:: judgement, judgment, judicial decision
(law) the determination by a court of competent jurisdiction on matters submitted to it

3

n an unfortunate happening that hinders or impedes; something that is thwarting or frustrating

Synonyms:: black eye, blow, reverse, setback

Types:: whammy
a serious or devastating setback

Type of:: happening, natural event, occurrence, occurrent
an event that happens