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

It was new to us, and to many in the party too: the abolition of stamp duty on main homes in England and Northern Ireland.

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A motion passed at its party conference at the weekend called for the party "to seek the effective abolition of private landlordism" while backing building more council houses.

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Even after abolition, Lucumí continued — quietly, often in private homes — as police and officials criminalized anything perceived as “pagan.”

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She will add: "Just as the last Labour government, with its new deal for young people, abolished long-term youth unemployment I can commit this government to nothing less than the abolition of long-term youth unemployment."

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In conversation with Severson, Deen says the abolition of slavery was a “terrific change” but goes on to justify the system.

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Related Words

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