Definition of ABOLITION

Examples of abolition in a Sentence

the abolition of a law
calls for the abolition of the death penalty

Recent Examples of abolition from the Web

Horace Greeley’s New York Tribune, America’s largest paper by circulation and a standard-bearer for abolition, was banned in the city.

— paul starobin, Smithsonian, "What Did Independence Day Mean to Southerners About to Secede?", 4 July 2017
Hadn’t McDonnell once been photographed holding a letter that called for the abolition of M.I.5, the U.K.’s equivalent of the F.B.I.?

— benjamin wallace-wells, The New Yorker, "How Jeremy Corbyn Moved Past the Politics of 2016", 8 June 2017
If Republicans need Democratic help to raise the debt limit, Democrats could fairly seek a multi-decade suspension of the debt limit—or preferably its outright abolition—in exchange for their votes.

— brian beutler, New Republic, "Our Debt Limit Nightmares Are Coming True", 7 June 2017
Undeniably, Underground—with its unapologetic commitment to telling the truth about genocide, abolition and revolution—fills and exceeds that role.

— treva b. lindsey, The Root, "#SaveUnderground: Aisha Hinds on Freedom Dreams and Revolutionary Art", 6 June 2017
Labour gained far more publicity for popular policies on renationalization of the railways, abolition of student tuition fees and hiring more police than would have been the case if it had been launched conventionally.

— Bloomberg.com, "May Battles Against Complacency as U.K. Election Lead Slips Away", 29 May 2017
His release helped spur the governor at the time, George Ryan, to halt executions in Illinois, a step toward the abolition of the death penalty here in 2011.

— steve schmadeke, chicagotribune.com, "Innocence certificate bid gains new life in case that doomed state death penalty", 25 May 2017
Perry, who once called for the abolition of the Energy Department, has since become an outspoken proponent of the department’s importance, particularly of the cutting-edge research conducted at the national labs.

— Washington Post, "Perry tours Y-12 nuclear weapons plant and Oak Ridge lab", 22 May 2017
But Perry, who once called for the abolition of the department, has become an outspoken proponent of the department's importance, particularly the national labs.

— andrew taylor, chicagotribune.com, "Trump budget promises balance in decade, relies on deep cuts", 22 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'abolition'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of abolition

borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French abolition, borrowed from Latin abolitiōn-, abolitiō, from aboli-, variant stem of abolēre “to abolish” + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of action nouns

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First Known Use: 1529

See Words from the same year

abolition Synonyms

Synonyms

abatement, abolishment, abrogation, annulment, avoidance, cancellation (also cancelation), defeasance, dissolution, invalidation, negation, nullification, quashing, repeal, rescindment, voiding

Near Antonyms

enactment, legislation; establishment, founding, institution; formalization, legalization, legitimation, legitimization, validation; passing, ratification; approval, authorization, clearance, endorsement (also indorsement), permission, sanctioning; commandment, decreeing, mandating, ordering, prescription

abolition