Definition

1. Noun:

   • The act of officially ending or cancelling a law, rule, or agreement: "Repeal" refers to the formal revocation or annulment of a statute, regulation, or legislative act by the authority that enacted it.

2. Verb:

   • To officially cancel or revoke a law, rule, or agreement: To "repeal" means to take back or annul an existing law or regulation through an official legislative or legal process.

Usage and Examples

• Noun:

  • The repeal of the unpopular tax law was celebrated by citizens.
  • Activists campaigned for the repeal of the outdated regulation.

• Verb:

  • The government voted to repeal the controversial statute.
  • Many hope the new parliament will repeal the restrictive measures.

Advanced Usage

• "To be subject to repeal": Describes a law or rule that can be officially cancelled.

  • Any ordinance passed by the council is subject to repeal by a majority vote.

• "Repeal and replace": A political phrase describing the action of cancelling an existing law and substituting it with a new one.

  • The healthcare policy debate centered on plans to repeal and replace the existing act.

Variants and Related Words

• Repealer (noun): One who repeals, or a legislative act that repeals another.

  • The senator was known as a leading repealer of burdensome laws.

• Repealable (adjective): Capable of being repealed.

  • The clause was intentionally made repealable by future administrations.

Synonyms

• Revoke: To officially cancel the validity of something.
• Abrogate: To formally abolish a law, agreement, or practice.
• Rescind: To revoke, cancel, or repeal a law, order, or agreement.
• Annul: To declare invalid or void.

Antonyms

• Enact: To make into law.
• Ratify: To formally approve and give formal consent to a treaty, contract, or agreement.
• Uphold: To confirm or maintain a law or decision.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• "A call for repeal": A public demand or movement urging the cancellation of a law.

  • There was a growing call for repeal of the prohibition-era law.

• "Power of repeal": The legal authority to revoke legislation.

  • The constitution grants the legislature the power of repeal.

Noun

1. the act of abrogating; an official or legal cancellation

Verb

1. cancel officially
   • He revoked the ban on smoking
   • lift an embargo
   • vacate a death sentence