Retcon definition

Add to word list Add to word list. Retcon is short for " retroactive continuity ":. Retcons are usually done for the sake of the plot at hand, retcon definition.

With so many long-running movie and TV franchises, the word "retcon" is often thrown around, but what does it mean in this context? Sometimes, the term is used to describe a continuity mistake in a work of fiction, but the true meaning goes a little deeper than that. In the world of movies and television—especially regarding franchises that have been going on for years—previously established information is bound to need a tweak or two. This is where retconning comes in, and there are a great many ways that this can be done. Retcons are often associated with mistakes in movies and TV.

Retcon definition

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'retcon. Send us feedback about these examples. The term was popularized by comics fandom—but that's not where it originated. Accessed 2 Mar. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free! See Definitions and Examples ». Dictionary Definition. Cite this Entry Citation Share. Log In. Could Bail's Backstory—and by extension the childhood of Princess Leia—suddenly be getting a retcon? The character has done everything from going into dormancy after losing his powers to being destroyed to being brought back via retcon … — Sage Ashford. Then came the series finale, and one of the most famous—and, depending on one's perspective, fascinating or infuriating— retcons in the history of TV.

All-Star Squadron was set during World War II on Earth-Two; as it was in the past of an alternate universe, retcon definition, all its events had repercussions on the contemporary continuity of the DC multiverse.

Retcon has had a busy life for such a young word. In the span of a few decades it has managed to become an abbreviation, change from a noun to a verb, and move from the jargon-filled chat rooms of the Internet to general parlance. Though Sherlock Holmes died at the Reichenbach Falls, the author, Arthur Conan Doyle, retroactively declared that his death had been staged in what has been described as an early example of a retcon. Retcon is a shortened form of retroactive continuity , and refers to a literary device in which the form or content of a previously established narrative is changed. Essentially, a retcon allows an author to have his or her cake and eat it too, as it enables the return of dead characters, the revision of unpopular elements of a work, and a general disregard for reality. The term appears to have its roots in a book by E.

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'retcon. Send us feedback about these examples. The term was popularized by comics fandom—but that's not where it originated. Accessed 15 Mar. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free! See Definitions and Examples ». Dictionary Definition. Cite this Entry Citation Share. Log In.

Retcon definition

Add to word list Add to word list. Retcon is short for " retroactive continuity. Retcons are usually done for the sake of the plot at hand. The scenes set in in "Selfless" are basically retcon. It isn't a total retcon. I never considered Anya's human past a retcon. The Sentry started out as an enormous retcon.

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Institutional account management Sign in as administrator on Oxford Academic. They're in 1st Ed. Read about the team of authors behind Collins Dictionaries. Has kind of a ring to it, don't you think? Entry history for retcon, v. The word in the example sentence does not match the entry word. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free! When should you open up or close down the board with your Scrabble move? It might also be nice to include slang that is specific to certain groups on the net, but which are specific to the net, such as "retconning" in r. English images. Essential British English.

In the world of storytelling, retroactive continuity, or retcon, is our secret weapon for narrative flexibility.

Writers did this to offer a supposedly plausible reason for the major character of Bobby Ewing , who had died onscreen at the end of Season 8, to be still alive when actor Patrick Duffy wanted to return to the series. Video Build your vocabulary. Usage explanations of natural written and spoken English. Words We're Watching talks about words we are increasingly seeing in use but that have not yet met our criteria for entry. Secondary School. Essential American English. This season is sometimes referred to as the "Dream Season" and was referred to humorously in later TV series such as Family Guy. February 26, These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Retcons are used by authors to increase their creative freedom, on the assumption that the changes are unimportant to the audience compared to the new story which can be told. Send us feedback about these examples. Revisions and additions of this kind were last incorporated into retcon, v.