cancellation

noun

can·​cel·​la·​tion ˌkan(t)-sə-ˈlā-shən 

variants or less commonly cancelation

1

: the act or an instance of canceling

The cancellation of the game was due to bad weather.

2

: something (such as a hotel room or a ticket) made available by the canceling of an arrangement

was lucky to get a cancellation for the trip to Chicago

3

: a mark made to cancel something (such as a postage stamp)

Synonyms

• abandonment
• abortion
• calling
• calling off
• dropping
• recall
• recision
• repeal
• rescission
• revocation

Examples of cancellation in a Sentence

The storm caused delays and flight cancellations.

Notice of cancellation should be given 30 days in advance.

There is a fee for cancellation.

Cancellations increased when rates doubled.

Recent Examples on the Web

Rae’s cancellation of An Evening with Issa Rae comes after Shonda Rhimes resigned from her treasurer position at the Kennedy Center amid fallout following Trump’s election to the board. —Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2025

While that status has not been officially revoked, the cancellation of the 2023 designation is a sign of what’s likely to come. —Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 12 Feb. 2025

Still, the cancellation made a noticeable impact on the company’s listing on the Japanese stock exchange. —Elias Burke, The Athletic, 12 Feb. 2025

The sudden cancellation Monday of hundreds of millions of dollars of government contracts to collect information on the state of U.S. education will blind the government to important trends from preschool to college and beyond, according to education researchers angered by the move. —Byjeffrey Mervis, science.org, 12 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see cancel entry 1

First Known Use

1535, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

cancellation

noun

can·​cel·​la·​tion ˌkan(t)-sə-ˈlā-shən 

1

: an act of canceling

2

: a mark made to cancel something

Legal Definition

cancellation

noun

can·​cel·​la·​tion

variants also cancelation

1

: the act or an instance of cancelling

2

: a mark made to cancel something (as a check)