A retort is a quick, sharp reply, especially one that answers a criticism or challenge. When someone teases you about striking out in baseball and you snap back, “At least I didn't drop the ball in the outfield,” that's a retort.

The word suggests speed and bite. A simple answer isn't a retort, but a clever comeback that turns the tables definitely is. If your brother says your drawing looks weird and you immediately reply, “Weird like your haircut?” you've made a retort. The best retorts are both quick and smart, catching the other person off guard.

Retorts often carry an edge or attitude. They're not mean-spirited necessarily, but they're not gentle either. They show you won't just accept criticism without pushing back. In stories and movies, witty characters are known for their clever retorts: when someone insults them, they fire back with something even sharper.

The word can also be a verb: you retort when you make that quick reply. “I studied plenty,” she retorted when accused of not preparing for the test. Notice how retorts can shut down the original comment rather than just ignoring it.