retractable

retractable — adjective

1. designed to be pulled or slid back into a larger object when no longer needed, s

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

designed to be pulled or slid back into a larger object when no longer needed, so that the whole thing becomes more compact or protected.

Example

Tamar bought a retractable dog leash for walks around the neighbourhood.

collocation: retractable leash / retractable roof / retractable pen

The new stadium has a retractable roof that closes when it rains.

Common collocations
  • retractable roof
  • retractable landing gear
  • retractable pen
  • retractable leash
  • retractable blade
  • retractable awning
  • retractable ladder
Synonyms
  • collapsible

    suggests folding or compressing rather than sliding back into a housing

  • foldable

    implies simple bending along a line, less mechanical than retractable

  • withdrawable

    more formal; used for financial or official contexts, not everyday objects

Antonyms

Usage Note

Commonly describes mechanical parts or everyday objects with a sliding or spring-loaded mechanism — pens, leashes, landing gear, sun roofs, and awnings.

Common Mistakes

She bought a retractable umbrella that folds into a small circle.
She bought a collapsible umbrella that folds into a small circle.
'retractable' implies sliding or drawing back into a housing, while 'collapsible' implies folding together.

Word family

  • retract
    verbB2
  • retraction
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Retractable describes something designed to be drawn or slid back into a housing (a retractable pen, retractable landing gear), emphasising a sliding or spring-loaded mechanism. Collapsible refers to something that can be folded or compressed into a smaller shape (a collapsible chair, a collapsible umbrella), focusing on folding rather than sliding. Foldable is simpler and suggests bending along a crease or hinge (a foldable phone, a foldable table). Withdrawable is more formal and technical, often appearing in financial or legal contexts (withdrawable funds). For everyday objects with a spring mechanism that returns a part to a stored position, retractable is the best choice.

retractable ↗collapsiblefoldablewithdrawable

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • with retractable [noun]

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Comes from Latin 'retractare', meaning 'to draw back' — formed from 're-' (back) and 'tractare' (to pull frequently), which itself comes from 'trahere' (to draw or pull). The word entered English through French in the 1700s, first used for legal statements being withdrawn, and later extended to mechanical objects that can be pulled back.