What does "cancellation" mean?

1. (stopping a planned event) the act of stopping something that was already arranged or scheduled. 2. (ending a contract or service) the act of ending a legal agreement or a subscription. 3. (mathematical removal) the act of removing the same numbers from both sides of an equation. 4. (postmark on a stamp) a mark put on a postage stamp so it cannot be used again.

How do you use "cancellation"?

Often used with 'of' followed by the event being cancelled. Commonly appears in 'cancellation policy' or 'cancellation fee'.

cancellation

US //ˌkænsəˈɫeɪʃən// UK //kˌænsɪlˈeɪʃən// can·cel·la·tion

1 stopping a planned event (n.)
B1 Intermediate

the act of stopping something that was already arranged or scheduled.

the act of rescinding or voiding a scheduled event, booking, or arrangement.

Example

The sudden cancellation of the flight left hundreds of passengers waiting at the airport.

Example

The last-minute cancellation of the keynote speaker forced the organisers to restructure the entire afternoon session of the conference.

Usage

Often used with 'of' followed by the event being cancelled.
- annulment
- withdrawal
- calling off
- confirmation
- booking
2 ending a contract or service (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Formal Law

the act of ending a legal agreement or a subscription.

the formal termination of a contract, policy, or legal agreement.

Example

You must give thirty days' notice for the cancellation of your gym membership.

Example

The legal team advised that the cancellation of the contract was justified due to a significant breach of the confidentiality clause.

Usage

Commonly appears in 'cancellation policy' or 'cancellation fee'.
- termination
- revocation
- nullification
- renewal
- enactment

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3 mathematical removal (n.)
C1 Advanced Technical Math

the act of removing the same numbers from both sides of an equation.

the operation of striking out common factors from the numerator and denominator of a fraction or from both sides of an equation.

Example

The teacher explained how cancellation makes solving the fraction much faster.

Example

Through the cancellation of common variables on both sides of the equation, the complex formula was reduced to a basic linear form.
- simplification
4 postmark on a stamp (n.)
C2 Proficiency Technical

a mark put on a postage stamp so it cannot be used again.

a mark or perforation placed on a postage stamp to deface it and prevent its subsequent reuse.

Example

The collector noticed that the cancellation on the old stamp was from a small town in 1920.

Example

Philatelists often value a rare cancellation more highly than the stamp itself, especially if the mark indicates a specific historical postal route.
- postmark
- obliteration

Origin

From Latin cancellātiō, from cancellō + -tiō.