1. surgical instruments used to hold back tissues or organs during an operation
Usage: medical
2. people who withdraw or take back previous statements or positions

Examples

• The surgeon carefully positioned the retractors to expose the surgical site.
• Different types of retractors are used depending on the procedure.
• The medical student learned to handle retractors properly during training.
• Several retractors came forward to apologize for their earlier accusations.
• The newspaper published statements from the retractors who had changed their testimony.
• Political retractors often face criticism from their former allies.