abolition

noun

ab·​o·​li·​tion ˌa-bə-ˈli-shᵊn 

1

: the act of officially ending or stopping something : the act of abolishing something

abolition of the death penalty

2

: the act of officially ending slavery

a proponent of abolition

abolitionary

ˌa-bə-ˈli-shə-ˌner-ē 

-ˌne-rē

adjective

Synonyms

• abatement
• abolishment
• abrogation
• annulment
• avoidance
• cancellation
• cancelation
• defeasance
• dissolution
• invalidation
• negation
• nullification
• quashing
• repeal
• rescindment
• voiding

Examples of abolition in a Sentence

the abolition of a law

calls for the abolition of the death penalty

Recent Examples on the Web

But in important ways, Rankin’s work provided a foundation for these titans to build even more support for abolition. —TIME, 2 Dec. 2024

Advertisement Jurado, through a spokesperson, has described abolition as an aspirational goal, one that would take many years and many steps. —David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2024

The curator’s latest book, Wide Awake: The Forgotten Force That Elected Lincoln and Spurred the Civil War, tells the stirring story of the Wide Awakes, a group of cape-wearing activists who called for the abolition of slavery in antebellum America. —Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Nov. 2024

McMahon may be tasked to oversee Trump's plans for the abolition of the Department of Education — a federal department that Trump has expressed interest in abolishing. —Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 21 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French abolition, borrowed from Latin abolitiōn-, abolitiō, from aboli-, variant stem of abolēre "to abolish" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of action nouns

First Known Use

1529, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

abolition

noun

ab·​o·​li·​tion ˌab-ə-ˈlish-ən 

1

: the act of officially ending or stopping something : the act of abolishing

2

: the abolishing of slavery

abolitionary

-ˈlish-ə-ˌner-ē 

adjective