Meaning & use

abolition

noun·Academic

The official ending of a system, practice, or law, especially one considered unjust.

See it in a sentence

The abolition of slavery in the United States came with the Thirteenth Amendment.

Campaigners are calling for the worldwide abolition of the death penalty.

A note on using this word

Abolition is most strongly associated historically with ending slavery, though it can describe formally ending any law or institution.

Words with a similar meaning

eliminationeradication

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

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