repeal

verb

re·​peal ri-ˈpēl 

repealed; repealing; repeals

transitive verb

1

: to rescind or annul by authoritative act

especially : to revoke or abrogate by legislative enactment

2

: abandon, renounce

3

obsolete : to summon to return : recall

repeal noun

repealable

ri-ˈpē-lə-bəl 

adjective

Synonyms

• cancel
• abandon
• revoke
• scrap
• abort
• rescind

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in 1933, Congress passed the 21st Amendment which repealed the Prohibition Amendment of 1919, thus making the sale, distribution, and use of alcohol legal once again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

But even in friendly rooms, Democrats are not promising to repeal the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in toto. —David Weigel, semafor.com, 18 July 2025

One positive step was to repeal many of the Inflation Reduction Act’s green energy subsidies. —Veronique De Rugy, Oc Register, 17 July 2025

As part of its broader efforts to repeal the successful Inflation Reduction Act, the administration halted distribution of unspent funds for vehicle charging stations from a $5 billion fund and called for ending the California waiver to enforce more ambitious zero-emission vehicle rules. —Margo T. Oge, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025

Never mind that five years earlier, Congress had repealed the Expatriation Act by passing a bill introduced by Ohio Rep. John L. Cable. —Marcia Biederman, Hartford Courant, 13 July 2025

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

Rhymes for repeal

• abele
• alkyl
• anneal
• appeal
• cartwheel
• conceal
• congeal
• coquille
• corneal
• cornmeal
• flywheel
• foveal

Kids Definition

repeal

verb

re·​peal ri-ˈpē(ə)l 

: to do away with especially by legislative action

repeal a law

repeal noun

repealable

-ˈpē-lə-bəl 

adjective

Legal Definition

repeal

transitive verb

re·​peal ri-ˈpēl 

: 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