abrogate

Word family

• abrogation
  nounC1
• abrogated
  adjectiveC2
• abrogator
  nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All four words describe cancelling something with formal or legal force. Repeal is the narrowest — it is used almost exclusively for legislation, and implies that the lawmaker reverses its own earlier decision (e.g., 'Parliament repealed the tax act'). Annul suggests declaring something invalid from the start, as if it never existed; it is common in judicial contexts and for marriages or contracts (e.g., 'the court annulled the fraudulent contract'). Revoke is the broadest — it applies to licenses, permissions, privileges, and agreements (e.g., 'the airline revoked his frequent-flyer status'). Nullify is similar to annul but can be used figuratively outside legal settings (e.g., 'the veto nullified the committee's vote'). Abrogate is the most formal and authoritative — it implies an official act by a state or governing body ending a treaty, law, or custom, and is rarely used for individual permissions or everyday situations.

Common collocations

Etymology

Borrowed into English in the 16th century from Latin abrogātus, the past participle of abrogāre 'to repeal a law'. The Latin word is formed from ab- 'away, off' and rogāre 'to propose a law, to ask'. The sense of avoiding a duty developed later and is now the less common meaning.