surrejoinder: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Technical
Quick answer
What does “surrejoinder” mean?
A reply made in a debate or legal argument.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A reply made in a debate or legal argument.
A response to a rejoinder, constituting the third (or later) stage in a formal exchange of arguments, especially in law or rhetoric.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical, though more commonly encountered in UK legal history and texts due to the common law tradition. The American legal system uses the term but may favor simpler procedural language.
Connotations
Connotes precision, formality, and an old-fashioned or highly technical style of argumentation.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both dialects; primarily found in historical legal documents, formal debate, or academic rhetoric.
Grammar
How to Use “surrejoinder” in a Sentence
The [party/defendant/plaintiff] filed a surrejoinder to the [rejoinder/counter-argument].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “surrejoinder” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The barrister sought leave to surrejoin.
- The defendant was not permitted to surrejoin on that point.
American English
- The attorney moved to surrejoin to the plaintiff's latest pleading.
- Counsel will surrejoin in writing by Friday.
adjective
British English
- The surrejoinder pleading was meticulously drafted.
American English
- His surrejoinder arguments were submitted to the court.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in specific fields like law, rhetoric, philosophy, or literary criticism to describe structured argumentative exchanges.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
Core usage is in legal procedure (pleadings) and formal debate theory.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “surrejoinder”
- Using it to mean any clever or witty reply. Mispronouncing it (e.g., stressing the first syllable). Using it outside of a formal, sequential argument context.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a rare, highly technical term used almost exclusively in formal legal contexts or academic discussions of rhetoric and debate.
In the traditional sequence of common law pleadings, a surrejoinder would be followed by a 'rebutter' from the party who made the original plea.
It is strongly discouraged. Using such a technical term in casual conversation would likely cause confusion and be perceived as pretentious or unnatural.
The verb is 'to surrejoin'. It is even rarer than the noun and means 'to reply with a surrejoinder'.
A reply made in a debate or legal argument.
Surrejoinder is usually formal, technical in register.
Surrejoinder: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsəːrɪˈdʒɔɪndə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsɝrɪˈdʒɔɪndər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None applicable.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: SUR- (a prefix meaning 'over' or 'above') + REJOINDER (a reply). It's the reply that comes 'over' the previous reply.
Conceptual Metaphor
ARGUMENT IS A FORMAL DUEL / GAME. The term conceptualizes argument as a ritualized, turn-based contest with strict rules.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'surrejoinder' most appropriately used?