abolition

noun

ab·​o·​li·​tion ˌa-bə-ˈli-shᵊn 

1

: the act of officially ending or stopping something : the act of abolishing something

abolition of the death penalty

2

: the act of officially ending slavery

a proponent of abolition

abolitionary

ˌa-bə-ˈli-shə-ˌner-ē 

-ˌne-rē

adjective

Synonyms

• repeal
• dissolution
• cancelation
• abolishment

Examples of abolition in a Sentence

the abolition of a law

calls for the abolition of the death penalty

Recent Examples on the Web

The abolition of mandatory retirement rules under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act has opened the door to longer tenures. —Rob Robinson, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025

Advertisement Survivors received some medical care and some form of compensation, but campaigns for more compensation and the abolition of nuclear weapons are ongoing. —Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 4 Aug. 2025

While the Hibakusha have long stood as global advocates for nuclear abolition, Japan’s approach to national security has placed growing emphasis on the role of nuclear deterrence. —Masako Toki, The Conversation, 4 Aug. 2025

The collection documents both sides of the slavery debate, pro and con—a useful correction to the self-congratulatory view of British history that celebrates abolition and turns a blind eye to everyone who defended slavery. —Literary Hub, 29 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1529, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for abolition

• acquisition
• admonition
• ammunition
• apparition
• apposition
• coalition
• competition
• composition
• definition
• deglutition
• demolition
• deposition

Kids Definition

abolition

noun

ab·​o·​li·​tion ˌab-ə-ˈlish-ən 

1

: the act of officially ending or stopping something : the act of abolishing

2

: the abolishing of slavery

abolitionary

-ˈlish-ə-ˌner-ē 

adjective