abrogation

IPA/ˌæbrəˈɡeɪʃn/
KK[ˌæbrəɡˈeʃən]IPA/ˌæbrəˈɡeɪʃn/

abrogation — noun

1. the official cancellation or annulment of a law, treaty, agreement, or establish

1.nounC1
Definition

the official cancellation or annulment of a law, treaty, agreement, or established custom by a person or body that has the authority to do so

Example

The Senate voted for the abrogation of the 1994 trade agreement.

abrogation of + agreement

Judge Elena Vargas confirmed the abrogation of the old property law.

Common collocations
  • abrogation of a law
  • abrogation of a treaty
  • abrogation of an agreement
  • unilateral abrogation
  • formal abrogation
  • abrogation clause
Synonyms
  • repeal

    specifically refers to a legislative body cancelling a law by enacting a new one; more common in political contexts

  • revocation

    narrower in scope — cancelling a permission, licence, or privilege rather than a whole law or treaty

  • annulment

    declares something was never legally valid from the start, rather than simply ending it

Antonyms
  • enactment

    the formal process of making a new law

  • ratification

    formal approval that makes an agreement legally binding

Grammar Patterns

abrogation of + noun phrase

Usage Note

Frequently used in legal and political writing. The subject performing the abrogation is typically a government, court, legislative body, or other formal authority. Not used for everyday cancellations such as cancelling a meeting or a reservation.

Common Mistakes

The meeting's abrogation upset everyone.
The meeting's cancellation upset everyone.
abrogation is reserved for formal, authoritative annulments of laws, treaties, or agreements, not everyday events.

2. the deliberate avoidance or neglect of a duty, responsibility, or obligation tha

2.nounC2
Definition

the deliberate avoidance or neglect of a duty, responsibility, or obligation that one is expected or required to carry out

Example

The manager's abrogation of his duties angered the rest of the staff.

abrogation of + duties

Critics called the decision an abrogation of the government's responsibility to protect its citizens.

Common collocations
  • abrogation of responsibility
  • abrogation of duty
  • abrogation of obligations
  • total abrogation
  • deliberate abrogation
  • clear abrogation
Synonyms
  • neglect

    less formal and can be unintentional; abrogation implies deliberate choice

  • abdication

    specifically giving up a position of power or responsibility; abrogation is failing to act within a role you still hold

  • dereliction

    formal term, most commonly in the fixed phrase 'dereliction of duty'; very close in meaning and register

Antonyms
  • fulfillment

    carrying out a duty or responsibility completely

  • discharge

    formal word for performing a duty or obligation

Grammar Patterns

abrogation of + noun phrase (responsibility, duty)

Usage Note

Carries a strongly disapproving tone. Most often appears in formal criticism, opinion columns, legal arguments, and institutional reviews. Not used for minor or accidental neglect such as forgetting an appointment.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Abrogation, repeal, revocation, annulment, and cancellation all involve ending something, but they differ in scope and register. Abrogation is the most formal and authoritative — it describes a high-level body (a government, court, or legislature) officially declaring a law, treaty, or agreement to be no longer in effect. Repeal is more specific: a legislative body cancels a law by passing a new one, as in 'the repeal of the healthcare law.' Revocation is narrower, typically used for permissions, licences, or privileges — a driver's licence can be revoked, but a constitution cannot. Annulment goes further by declaring that something was never legally valid from the start (e.g., 'annulment of a marriage'). Cancellation is the broadest and least formal term, covering everything from a meeting to a contract. Use abrogation only in formal legal or political writing where authority and finality are essential.

repealrevocation ↗annulment ↗cancellation ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • the abrogation of
  • call for the abrogation of
  • lead to the abrogation of
  • amount to an abrogation of

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

From Latin abrogātiō, derived from abrogāre 'to repeal or abolish' — formed from ab- ('away, from') and rogāre ('to propose a law, ask'). The word entered English in the 1500s through Middle French abrogacion, initially used in Roman law contexts and later broadened to general legal and formal usage.

First known use

1535

1535, in the meaning defined above