rejoinder

Plural: rejoinders

Noun

• a quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one)
  • "it brought a sharp rejoinder from the teacher"
• (law) a pleading made by a defendant in response to the plaintiff's replication
• The defendant's answer to the replication.
• A response that answers another response.
• A quick response that involves disagreement or is witty, especially an answer to a question.
• Re-insertion, typically after allowance of a patent application, of patent claims that had been withdrawn from examination under a restriction requirement.

Verb

• To issue a rejoinder.
• To say as a rejoinder.

Synonyms

comeback, counter, replication, retort, return, riposte