abolition

[ ab-uh-lish-uhn ]

noun

1. the act of abolishing or the state of being abolished: the abolition of capital punishment;

   the abolition of war;

   the abolition of capital punishment;

   the abolition of unfair taxes.

   Synonyms: invalidation, eradication, repeal, revocation, nullification, elimination, annihilation

   Antonyms: establishment

2. the legal prohibition of slavery, especially the institutional enslavement of Black people in the U.S.

abolition

/ ˌæbəˈlɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of abolishing or the state of being abolished; annulment
2. often capital (in British territories) the ending of the slave trade (1807) or the ending of slavery (1833): accomplished after a long campaign led by William Wilberforce
3. often capital (in the US) the emancipation of the slaves, accomplished by the Emancipation Proclamation issued in 1863 and ratified in 1865

Derived Forms

• ˌaboˈlitionist, nounadjective
• ˌaboˈlitionism, noun
• ˌaboˈlitionary, adjective

Other Words From

• abo·lition·ary adjective
• nonab·o·lition noun
• proab·o·lition adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of abolition¹

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin abolitiōn- (stem of abolitiō ), equivalent to abolit(us) “effaced, destroyed,” past participle of abolēre “to destroy, efface” + -iōn- noun suffix; abolish, -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of abolition¹

C16: from Latin abolitio, from abolēre to destroy

Example Sentences

And she described herself as an “abolitionist” — someone who favors the “abolition of police and the prison industrial complex.”

From Los Angeles Times

The government is going to press ahead with the abolition of the 'not proven' verdict, which has cross-party support.

From BBC

Options on the table include the reform or abolition of the main regulator Ofwat.

From BBC

But he commended his aide, saying Jurado has been sidestepping questions about police abolition.

From Los Angeles Times

At the same time, her campaign said she did check the box identifying her as an abolitionist on the questionnaire circulated by the DSA, which favors abolition.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• abolishment
• abrogation
• annulment
• cancellation
• destruction
• dissolution
• elimination
• eradication
• nullification
• overthrow
• repeal
• revocation
• termination
• withdrawal