Noun: retortion ri'tor-shun
- (international relations) a reciprocal act of retaliation by one state against another, typically in response to unfriendly or illegal actions
"Economic sanctions were imposed as a retortion for the violation of trade agreements"
- The act of countering an argument by using the same reasoning or evidence against the person who made it
"The lawyer used retortion to expose the flaws in the prosecution's logic"
Derived forms: retortions
Encyclopedia: Retortion