abolition

noun

ab·​o·​li·​tion ˌa-bə-ˈli-shᵊn How to pronounce abolition (audio)
1
: the act of officially ending or stopping something : the act of abolishing something
abolition of the death penalty
2
: the act of officially ending slavery
a proponent of abolition
abolitionary adjective

Examples of abolition in a Sentence

the abolition of a law calls for the abolition of the death penalty
Recent Examples on the Web Of course, Lincoln went on to become a pivotal historical figure in the abolition of slavery. Journal Sentinel, 9 Jan. 2024 No matter how difficult, bipartisan buy-in must go beyond stop-gap solutions and expand to encompass repealing or amending decades-old enabling statutes, to privatizations, and to the abolition of departments and agencies responsible for bloated federal functions. Clyde Wayne Crews Jr., Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024 Now, the city is pointing blame at Ben Camacho, a reporter with Knock LA who published the photos with the help of the Stop LAPD Spying Coalition, a group that advocates for the abolition of police. Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2024 To date, 27 of the 33 constitutional amendments passed by Congress have been ratified by the states — from the abolition of slavery to women’s suffrage. Lisa B. Nelson, Sun Sentinel, 17 Jan. 2024 Other ideas being floated include the abolition of inheritance tax, a policy that has long been favored on the right of the Conservative Party. Stephen Castle, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2023 Recent allegations against the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, based on Israeli intelligence, have led to calls for its abolition. Nr Editors, National Review, 2 Feb. 2024 The track record of reducing blood lead levels in rich countries is encouraging, as is the global abolition of leaded gasoline. Rachel Silverman Bonnifield, Foreign Affairs, 22 Jan. 2024 For the next 43 years, until their (second?) death in 1819, the Friend led a community of spiritual followers, preaching a radical variation on Quaker theology that stressed free will, God’s love, the abolition of slavery, and the possibility of utopian community and universal salvation. Sara Holdren, Vulture, 19 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'abolition.' 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

borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French abolition, borrowed from Latin abolitiōn-, abolitiō, from aboli-, variant stem of abolēre "to abolish" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of action nouns

First Known Use

1529, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of abolition was in 1529

Dictionary Entries Near abolition

Cite this Entry

“Abolition.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abolition. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

abolition

noun
ab·​o·​li·​tion ˌab-ə-ˈlish-ən How to pronounce abolition (audio)
1
: the act of abolishing : the state of being abolished
2
: the abolishing of slavery
abolitionary adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on abolition

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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