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

Other Word Forms

• abolitionary adjective
• nonabolition noun
• proabolition adjective
• abolitionist noun
• abolitionism noun

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

Some Conservatives have argued that their party should support abolition to attract more voters.

From BBC

Bolsonaro has been charged with leading an armed criminal organisation, attempting the violent abolition of the democratic state of law, an attempted coup, damage to federal property, and the deterioration of listed heritage.

From BBC

Experts' views on the changes are mixed, with some arguing the abolition of stamp duty in particular could speed up the housing market but cost billions in lost tax revenue.

From BBC

Some of the greatest civil rights advances started with petitions to government, including the abolition of slavery.

From BBC

Another change the government is reportedly considering is the abolition of stamp duty, which is a tax on the purchase of homes.

From BBC

Related Words

• abolishment www.thesaurus.com
• abrogation 
• annulment 
• cancellation 
• destruction 
• dissolution 
• elimination 
• eradication 
• nullification 
• overthrow 
• repeal 
• revocation 
• termination 
• withdrawal