abolition

English

Etymology

First attested in 1529. Either from Middle French abolition, or directly from Latin abolitiō, from aboleō (“destroy”). Compare French abolition. Equivalent to abolish +‎ -tion.

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˌæb.əˈlɪʃ.n̩/

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

Noun

abolition (plural abolitions)

1. The act of abolishing; an annulling; abrogation.

   the abolition of debts; the abolition of laws; the abolition of slavery; the abolition of police; the abolition of taxes

2. The state of being abolished.
3. (historical, often capitalised, UK, US) The ending of the slave trade or of slavery.
4. (historical, often capitalised, Australia) The ending of convict transportation.
5. (obsolete) An amnesty; a putting out of memory.

Usage notes

The sense "amnesty", and in general any reference to "abolition of" a person, is now obsolete or unusual.

Antonyms

• (antonym(s) of “act of abolishing”): establishment, foundation

Derived terms

Translations

References

• “abolition”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.

French

Etymology

From Latin abolitionem.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /a.bɔ.li.sjɔ̃/

• Audio

  (file)

Noun

abolition f (plural abolitions)

1. abolition

Derived terms

• abolitionnisme
• abolitionniste

Related terms

• abolir

Further reading

• “abolition”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé , 2012.