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repealed; repealing; repeals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in 1933, Congress passed the 21st Amendment which repealed the Prohibition Amendment of 1919, thus making the sale, distribution, and use of alcohol legal once again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

Lawmakers in some states have looked at reducing the eligibility for Medicaid, either by letting existing legislation expire or by actively repealing the expansion brought about by the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which could impact the healthcare of millions. —Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 12 Feb. 2025

Under the Congressional Review Act, each regulation can be repealed one by one with a simple majority vote in each chamber and the signature of the president. —David Sivak, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 12 Feb. 2025

In his first weeks in office, Trump has accelerated this process, issuing unconstitutional executive orders and directives purporting to repeal birthright citizenship and directing OMB to freeze funding for thousands of federal programs in violation of an act of Congress. —Lawrence Norden, TIME, 12 Feb. 2025

This week committees will review a slate of bills, ranging from anti-fraud measures to repeal pushes on laws passed in recent years. —Dana Ferguson, Twin Cities, 10 Feb. 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