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repealed; repealing; repeals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in 1933, Congress passed the 21st Amendment which repealed the Prohibition Amendment of 1919, thus making the sale, distribution, and use of alcohol legal once again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

Critics say the law has contributed to higher gas prices in Washington state and should be repealed, which is what would happen if voters pass I-2117. —Melissa Santos, Axios, 21 Oct. 2024

State lawmakers repealed the bill that month, restoring a 2022 state law restricting most abortions after 15 weeks’ gestation. —Samantha-Jo Roth, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 19 Oct. 2024

Landry’s tax package would also repeal the corporate franchise tax and move the corporate income tax from a progressive structure with a top rate of 7.5% to a flat rate of 3.5%. —Patrick Gleason, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2024

Fox anchor Bret Baier confronted Harris about the Biden administration’s decision to repeal Trump-era border policies, in what amounted to testy exchanges between the two. —Alexandra Banner, CNN, 17 Oct. 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