abolish

verb

abol·​ish ə-ˈbä-lish 

abolished; abolishing; abolishes

transitive verb

: to end the observance or effect of (something, such as a law) : to completely do away with (something) : annul

abolish a law

abolish slavery

abolishable

ə-ˈbä-li-shə-bəl 

adjective

abolisher noun

abolishment

ə-ˈbä-lish-mənt 

noun

Synonyms of abolish

• repeal
• cancel
• overturn

Examples of abolish in a Sentence

He is in favor of abolishing the death penalty.

the U.S. abolished slavery by constitutional amendment on December 6, 1865

Recent Examples on the Web

Early this year, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the president was looking at eliminating income tax for those making under $150,000 annually, with the longer-term goal of eventually abolishing the IRS. —Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2025

Life imprisonment is the harshest punishment available in New Zealand, which abolished the death penalty in 1989. —Reuters 14 Hr Ago, CNN Money, 26 Nov. 2025

Reverend Jeff Hood, who has been fighting to abolish the death penalty for the last 15 years, recently held a press conference to speak out against Mangione’s death penalty charge. —Lorena O'Neil, Rolling Stone, 24 Nov. 2025

Indeed, automation is on track to abolish many of the most frustrating and monotonous factory jobs. —Victor J. Blue, Harpers Magazine, 23 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English abolysshen, borrowed from Middle French aboliss-, stem of abolir "to abolish," borrowed from Latin abolēre "to destroy, efface, put an end to," perhaps formed from abolēscere "to shrivel up, be effaced, fall into disuse," from ab- ab- + -ol-, medial form of the base of alere "to nourish, bring up" + -ēsc-, inchoative suffix — more at old entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for abolish

• demolish
• gaulish
• polish
• smallish

Kids Definition

abolish

verb

abol·​ish ə-ˈbäl-ish 

: to do away with completely : put an end to

abolishable

-ə-bəl 

adjective

abolisher noun

abolishment

-mənt 

noun

Legal Definition

abolish

transitive verb

abol·​ish

: to end the observance or effect of : annul