In telecommunications, release time is the time interval for a circuit to respond when an enabling signal is discontinued, for example:
in an automatic gain control or echo suppressor circuit, the time interval between the end of the enabling signal and the instant at which suppression ceases, for a relay, the time between when the coil is de-energized, and the instant that contact closure ceases or is established.
References This article incorporates public domain material from Federal Standard 1037C. General Services Administration. Archived from the original on 2022-01-22. (in support of MIL-STD-188).