Pronunciation: [ɹɪvˈɜːsə͡l] (IPA) 
The word "reversal" is spelled with the letter "e" between "v" and "r", which is uncommon in English. The pronunciation of the letters "e" and "a" in this word is similar, making it easy to confuse their order. The IPA phonetic transcription for "reversal" is /rɪˈvɜːrsəl/. This transcription highlights the stress on the first syllable "re", the "v" sound at the beginning of "versal", and the "s" sound at the end of the word.
Reversal, noun:
1. The act or process of reversing or being reversed; a change or transformation from one direction or state to the opposite. This can refer to a physical movement or alteration as well as an abstract or symbolic change.
2. A complete change or shift in position, opinion, belief, or policy. This often implies a sudden or unexpected reversal of a previously held stance or viewpoint.
3. A legal action or decision to overturn or annul a previous judgment, ruling, or decree. It involves a formal process of challenging a decision through legal means.
4. A financial or economic turnaround in which a decline or negative trend is reversed, and the situation improves or stabilizes. This can refer to an individual, organization, or larger economic scale.
5. In sports, a situation where a team or player, who was initially losing or backward, manages to gain the advantage, win the game, or turn the tide in their favor.
6. A literary device often used in poetry or prose, involving the reversal of expected or customary meaning, creating surprise or irony. It can also refer to a plot twist where the expected outcome is suddenly overturned.
Overall, "reversal" refers to a fundamental change, often of direction, opinion, or outcome, encompassing various fields such as physical movements, opinions, legal actions, financial conditions, sports, and literature. It illustrates a shift from one state to its opposite, whether it be in the physical, intellectual, or abstract realms.
A change; a contrary decision.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "reversal" derives from the Middle English term "reversen", which originally came from the Old French word "reverser". In turn, "reverser" traces back to the Latin word "reversare", meaning "to turn back" or "to reverse". The Latin term is a combination of the prefix "re-" indicating reversal or back, and the verb "versare" meaning "to turn". Over time, "reversen" evolved into "reversal" in English, retaining its fundamental meaning of an act or instance of reversing or turning something back.
