repeal

verb

re·​peal ri-ˈpēl How to pronounce repeal (audio)
repealed; repealing; repeals

transitive verb

1
: to rescind or annul by authoritative act
especially : to revoke or abrogate by legislative enactment
2
3
obsolete : to summon to return : recall
repeal noun
repealable adjective

Examples of repeal in a Sentence

the company called the furniture store to repeal the order for six new desks in 1933, Congress passed the 21st Amendment which repealed the Prohibition Amendment of 1919, thus making the sale, distribution, and use of alcohol legal once again
Recent Examples on the Web The Clydesdales, mainstays in commercials and parades, were first introduced in 1933 after Prohibition was repealed. Heather Hollingsworth, Fortune, 20 Sep. 2023 But those initiatives are on hold after a coalition of hospitals and other industries gathered enough signatures to put the question to local voters, seeking to repeal them over concerns that universal wage hikes would force facilities to scale back programs, ultimately diminishing patient care. Mackenzie Mays, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2023 Now, a ballot group led by Mathias and Phillip Izon seeks to repeal the new method and revert to Alaska’s previous voting system. Iris Samuels, Anchorage Daily News, 13 Sep. 2023 The families at the time were attempting to put down roots in the shadow of the Chinese Exclusion Act, which had passed in 1882 and was not repealed until 1943. Kimmy Yam, NBC News, 12 Sep. 2023 As governor, Richardson signed legislation in 2009 that repealed the death penalty. Eric Tucker, Dallas News, 2 Sep. 2023 In 2017, McCain cast the deciding vote against Trump’s attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Paul Kane, Washington Post, 2 Sep. 2023 It was previously reserved for those who qualified for special needs services in public schools — which gave the program its name — but that was repealed. Courtney Tanner, The Salt Lake Tribune, 25 Aug. 2023 Cuban had been interested in the health-care industry since 2017, when Republican legislation spurred significant discussion around repealing the Affordable Care Act. Lauren Larson, Men's Health, 7 Sep. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'repeal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English repelen, borrowed from Anglo-French repeler, rapeler, reapeler "to call back, bring back, recover, rescind, deter," from re- re- + apeler, appeler to call, summon, call before a court" — more at appeal entry 2

Note: Both the form and meaning of the Anglo-French verb have been influenced to some degree by Latin repellere "to push away, fend off" (see repel).

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of repeal was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near repeal

Cite this Entry

“Repeal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/repeal. Accessed 2 Oct. 2023.

Kids Definition

repeal

verb
re·​peal ri-ˈpē(ə)l How to pronounce repeal (audio)
: to do away with especially by legislative action
repeal a law
repeal noun
repealable adjective

Legal Definition

repeal

transitive verb
re·​peal ri-ˈpēl How to pronounce repeal (audio)
: to rescind or annul by authoritative act
especially : to revoke or abrogate by legislative enactment
legislatures repealing statutes in light of a recent Supreme Court decision
repeal noun
Etymology

Anglo-French repeler, from Old French, from re- back + apeler to appeal, call, from Latin appellare to address, entreat, call by name

More from Merriam-Webster on repeal

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