The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Recantation \Re`can*ta"tion\ (r[=e]`k[a^]n*t[=a]"sh[u^]n), n.
   The act of recanting; a declaration that contradicts a former
   one; that which is thus asserted in contradiction;
   retraction.
   [1913 Webster]

         The poor man was imprisoned for this discovery, and
         forced to make a public recantation.     --Bp.
                                                  Stillingfleet.
   [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

recantation
    n 1: a disavowal or taking back of a previous assertion [syn:
         retraction, abjuration, recantation]