# abolition

/ˌæbəˈɫɪʃən/ (US) · /ˌæbəlˈɪʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/abolition
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. ending a law or system

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the act of officially ending a law, a rule, or a system.

For teachers: the formal act of abrogation or annulling a law, custom, or institution. Often used in legal or political contexts.

- Many people campaigned for the abolition of the unfair tax.
- The sudden abolition of the trade tariffs led to a period of economic instability as local businesses struggled to compete with foreign imports.

### 2. ending slavery

noun · CEFR C1 · General-service

the historical ending of the slave trade or slavery.

For teachers: the historical movement and eventual legal termination of the institution of slavery. Frequently capitalized when referring to specific historical acts.

- The abolition of slavery was a major turning point in history.
- Historians continue to debate the primary economic and moral drivers that eventually led to the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade.

Usage: Often used with the preposition 'of', as in 'the abolition of slavery'.

## Examples

- The abolition of slavery took many years.
- The government announced the abolition of the old tax system next month.
- The abolition of the death penalty marked a significant shift in the country's approach to criminal justice and human rights.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.