Abolished

/əˈbɒlɪʃt/

verbIntermediate📊CommonLegal
1 meaning1 question

Definitions

1

to officially put an end to a law, system, practice etc.

/əˈbɒlɪʃt/

verbneutralIntermediate
Legal

Do away with; put an end to

The practice of child labor was abolished in many countries.

More Examples

2

The death penalty has been abolished in some European countries.

How It's Used

Law

"Slavery was finally abolished in the United States in 1865."

Policy

"The government decided to abolish the tax on books."

Late 15th century (in the sense 'reduced to nothing'): from Old French abolir, from Latin abolere 'abolish, annul'

Abolished was used in the late 15th century, derived from Old French abolir and Latin abolere.

Memory tip

Imagine laws or systems being erased or 'bolished' away.

Word Origin

LanguageLatin
Original meaning

"erase, wipe out"

abolish slaveryabolish the death penalty

Common misspellings

abollishedabalishedabolisht

Usage

70%Spoken
30%Written