revocation
Americannoun
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the act of revoking; annulment.
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Law. nullification or withdrawal, especially of an offer to contract.
noun
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the act of revoking or state of being revoked; cancellation
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the cancellation or annulment of a legal instrument, esp a will
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the withdrawal of an offer, power of attorney, etc
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Usage
What does revocation mean? Revocation is the withdrawal or cancellation of something. Revocation is a noun form of the verb revoke, which means to take back, withdraw, or cancel. Revoke and revocation are typically used in the context of officially taking back or cancelling some kind of right, status, or privilege that has already been given or approved. Passports and laws are subject to revocation, for example. In the context of law, revocation typically refers to the withdrawal of an offer or the nullification of a legal contract like a will. Example: The revocation of your privileges was a consequence of your repeated rule violations.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of revocation
1375–1425; late Middle English revocacion < Latin revocātiōn- (stem of revocātiō ) a calling back, equivalent to revocāt ( us ) (past participle of revocāre to revoke ) + -iōn- -ion
Explanation
After revocation, something has been officially taken away. You might protest the revocation of your car privilege if your parents take it away because you hit the mailbox again. Revocation refers to the cancelling or annulment of something by some authority. When revocation happens, a privilege, title, or status is removed from someone. If the library revokes your library card, you can no longer take out library books — that's a type of revocation. If a restaurant is dirty, that could result in the revocation of its health license. If a lawyer breaks the law, it could lead to the revocation of his license to practice law.
Vocabulary lists containing revocation
This Week in Words: November 10 - 16, 2018
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In April 2023, the adoptive mother made an application in the High Court seeking revocation of the adoption order.
From BBC • Apr. 22, 2026
I learned the new financial POA didn’t automatically revoke the old one, and although the county had prepared a revocation letter, I was never given it.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 19, 2026
It’s hard to overemphasize the chaos an abrupt revocation of identity documents can inflict on a person’s life.
From Slate • Feb. 27, 2026
The state has argued the revocation is valid.
From Salon • Oct. 27, 2025
Although “debtor’s prison” is illegal in all states, many states use the threat of probation or parole revocation as a debt-collection tool.
From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
