retcon
/ˈrɛtkɒn/
CommonChanging previously established facts in a story, usually to fix a problem or take the story in a new direction.
Can be subtle (reinterpreting a scene) or blatant (pretending a character never died). Fans use it neutrally or negatively depending on whether the change improved the story.
Real-world examples4 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | They just retconned her entire backstory in one episode. Three seasons of setup gone. | The show changed established character history in a way that contradicts or erases prior story. | x, 2024 |
| 02 | killing him off was a mistake and this retcon proves they knew it | Bringing a character back signals the writers regret the original decision. | reddit, 2023 |
| 03 | that's not a plot twist, that's a retcon. they never set that up | Distinguishing between a planned reveal and an after-the-fact story change. | reddit, 2024 |
| 04 | soft retcon but they stopped mentioning her sister after season 2 and now act like she never existed | The show quietly dropped a character detail rather than directly changing it. | tiktok, 2023 |
Use it when
- A writer changes established story facts in a new installment.
- A character who died is brought back with a new explanation.
- A franchise recontextualizes old events to support a new direction.
- You are discussing changes to canon in a long-running series.
Do not use it when
- The story revealed something new that was always secretly true.
- You just mean a plot hole or a continuity error.Use “plot-hole” instead.
- You mean a reboot or remake that starts fresh.
Variations and related forms
Retcon vs plot hole
retcon
A retcon is a deliberate change to established facts, made intentionally by the writers.
VS
plot-hole
A plot hole is an accidental gap or contradiction the writers did not catch or resolve.
Origin and context
Portmanteau of 'retroactive continuity'. Originated in comic book fan communities in the 1980s, used to describe editorial changes to long-running series. Spread to mainstream fandom with the rise of online discussion forums.
- First seen
- 1988
- Confidence
- high
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/retconUpdated: 2026-08-28License: CC BY 4.0