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repealed; repealing; repeals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in 1933, Congress passed the 21st Amendment which repealed the Prohibition Amendment of 1919, thus making the sale, distribution, and use of alcohol legal once again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

Initially, officials issued a tsunami warning for some coastal areas, although this was repealed a few hours later. —Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024

The only time in U.S. history a constitutional amendment has been repealed was when the 18th Amendment prohibiting the manufacture, sale and transportation of intoxication liquors, better known as prohibition, was repealed in 1933 through the addition of the 21st Amendment, LeRoy noted. —Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 9 Dec. 2024

The Phi Beta Kappa Society remains the oldest academic honor society in the U.S. 1933: Prohibition ended with ratification of the 21st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the nation’s only amendment of 27 ratified to have repealed another amendment. —Lorenzino Estrada, The Arizona Republic, 6 Dec. 2024

Laws passed by Congress remain binding until they are repealed or amended by Congress or struck down by the courts. —Dewardric L. McNeal, CNBC, 5 Dec. 2024

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