abolish

verb

abol·​ish ə-ˈbä-lish 

abolished; abolishing; abolishes

transitive verb

: to end the observance or effect of (something, such as a law) : to completely do away with (something) : annul

abolish a law

abolish slavery

abolishable

ə-ˈbä-li-shə-bəl 

adjective

abolisher noun

abolishment

ə-ˈbä-lish-mənt 

noun

Synonyms

• abate
• abrogate
• annul
• avoid
• cancel
• disannul
• dissolve
• invalidate
• negate
• null
• nullify
• quash
• repeal
• rescind
• roll back
• strike down
• vacate
• void

Examples of abolish in a Sentence

He is in favor of abolishing the death penalty.

the U.S. abolished slavery by constitutional amendment on December 6, 1865

Recent Examples on the Web

The Tesla billionaire spent Thanksgiving with Trump at Mar-a-Lago in Florida. MORE: Some ethics experts raise concerns over Musk and Ramaswamy's Department of Government Efficiency roles Earlier this week, Musk proposed abolishing the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. —Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 29 Nov. 2024

His transition team is reportedly working on plans to abolish the tax credits and to roll back the more stringent fuel-economy rules that were pushed through by the Biden administration. —Tom Krisher, Fortune, 26 Nov. 2024

Ramaswamy called to abolish the department as recently as last summer while running his own campaign for president. —Jenny Goldsberry, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 25 Nov. 2024

Marshall’s ongoing drive to end the military conflict in Ukraine, and to halt the testing worldwide of anti-satellite missiles, in some ways resembles Einstein’s earlier campaign to abolish nuclear super-bombs. —Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes, 25 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English abolysshen, borrowed from Middle French aboliss-, stem of abolir "to abolish," borrowed from Latin abolēre "to destroy, efface, put an end to," perhaps formed from abolēscere "to shrivel up, be effaced, fall into disuse," from ab- ab- + -ol-, medial form of the base of alere "to nourish, bring up" + -ēsc-, inchoative suffix — more at old entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

abolish

verb

abol·​ish ə-ˈbäl-ish 

: to do away with completely : put an end to

abolishable

-ə-bəl 

adjective

abolisher noun

abolishment

-mənt 

noun

Legal Definition

abolish

transitive verb

abol·​ish

: to end the observance or effect of : annul