repeal

verb

re·​peal ri-ˈpēl 

repealed; repealing; repeals

transitive verb

1

: to rescind or annul by authoritative act

especially : to revoke or abrogate by legislative enactment

2

: abandon, renounce

3

obsolete : to summon to return : recall

repeal noun

repealable

ri-ˈpē-lə-bəl 

adjective

Synonyms

• abandon
• abort
• call
• call off
• cancel
• cry off
• drop
• recall
• rescind
• revoke
• scrap
• scrub

Examples of repeal in a Sentence

the company called the furniture store to repeal the order for six new desks

in 1933, Congress passed the 21st Amendment which repealed the Prohibition Amendment of 1919, thus making the sale, distribution, and use of alcohol legal once again

Recent Examples on the Web

Conflicting Promises Nonetheless, GOP lawmakers from high-tax states such as New York and California have been pushing hard to repeal or at least raise the cap. —Howard Gleckman, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025

During his first term, President Donald Trump tried several times to repeal the ACA but was unsuccessful. —Fritz Farrow, ABC News, 8 Jan. 2025

According to a November Congressional Research Service report, the two provisions repealed by the new law will impact about 28% of public sector employees covered by the Civil Service Retirement System, the share of which varies by state. —Carson Swick, Baltimore Sun, 7 Jan. 2025

The new law repeals the Windfall Elimination Provision, which cut benefits for people who earned them but also received a public pension from a job not covered by Social Security. —David Lightman, Sacramento Bee, 6 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English repelen, borrowed from Anglo-French repeler, rapeler, reapeler "to call back, bring back, recover, rescind, deter," from re- re- + apeler, appeler to call, summon, call before a court" — more at appeal entry 2

Note: Both the form and meaning of the Anglo-French verb have been influenced to some degree by Latin repellere "to push away, fend off" (see repel).

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

repeal

verb

re·​peal ri-ˈpē(ə)l 

: to do away with especially by legislative action

repeal a law

repeal noun

repealable

-ˈpē-lə-bəl 

adjective

Legal Definition

repeal

transitive verb

re·​peal ri-ˈpēl 

: to rescind or annul by authoritative act

especially : to revoke or abrogate by legislative enactment

legislatures repealing statutes in light of a recent Supreme Court decision

repeal noun

Etymology

Anglo-French repeler, from Old French, from re- back + apeler to appeal, call, from Latin appellare to address, entreat, call by name