WordValerepeal
to officially revoke a law
In more detail
1. (verb) to officially end or cancel a law or regulation
2. (noun) the action of officially canceling a law or regulation
Examples
- 1. The government voted to repeal the old tax law.
- 2. The repeal of the prohibition era happened in 1933.
How to use repeal
Repeal is a formal, legal term used when a government officially cancels or ends an existing law, regulation, or statute. It is more specific and formal than general synonyms like abolish or revoke, carrying weight in legislative and legal contexts. The noun form refers to the act of cancellation itself.
Common phrases
- repeal a law
- repeal legislation
- repeal a ban
- call for repeal
- full repeal
Synonyms
revoke · abolish · abrogate · rescind · nullify
Opposites
enact · establish · institute
Word family
repeal (noun) · repeal (verb) · repealer (noun)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse repeal with appeal; repeal involves canceling a law, while appeal involves asking a higher court to review a decision.
Save this word in WordVale and it comes back for review right before you'd forget it — with pronunciation, real examples, and optional translations. One purchase, no subscription.
Get WordValeFREE 7-DAY TRIAL · iPHONE & iPAD