retrocession

/ˌrɛtroʊˈsɛʃən/
noun
  1. The act of giving back something, such as land or rights, to a former owner or ruler.
    • The retrocession of the territory was a key part of the peace agreement.
    • The retrocession of the property to the family took several years of legal work.
    • Historians studied the retrocession of the colony to its original governing power.
  2. The act of moving back or receding; a withdrawal.
    • The retrocession of the glacier has exposed new rock formations.
    • Doctors noted the retrocession of the patient's symptoms after treatment.
    • The retrocession of the floodwaters allowed the cleanup to begin.
What does "retrocession" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean