noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', intransitive verb
Formal or literary term for standing up and leaving a seat, often in a ceremonial or respectful context.
会議が終わり、出席者が次々と退座した。
The meeting ended, and the attendees left their seats one after another.
退席 is more common and general for leaving a seat or a meeting, while 退座 is more formal and specifically refers to leaving a seat, often in a traditional or ceremonial setting.
Compound of 退 (retreat, leave) and 座 (seat). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the kanji combination directly conveys the meaning of leaving one's seat.