What does abolish mean?
To abolish is to formally and officially bring an end to a law, custom, system, or institution — particularly one of long standing. The verb carries a deliberate, authoritative tone: abolishing is done by legislatures, governments, courts, or other bodies with power to enact such change, not by individuals acting casually. Typical objects include taxes, penalties, monarchies, practices like slavery, and entire institutions. Because it implies formal action against something entrenched, the word often appears in political debate, legal writing, and historical narrative. Its noun form, abolition, is famously tied to the movement to end slavery, giving the word strong moral and historical resonance for many readers. Related forms include abolitionist (one who advocates abolition) and abolishment (a less common synonym for abolition). When choosing between similar words, note that repeal applies specifically to laws, while eradicate suggests wiping out a problem or disease; abolish sits between them, emphasizing official termination of a system or rule.
verbTo formally put an end to a law, system, practice, or institution, especially one that has existed for a long time.
- To formally end a law, system, practice, or institution.
"The government moved to abolish the outdated tax."
"Parliament voted to abolish the monarchy's veto power."
"The new constitution abolished capital punishment altogether."
Abolish comes from the same Latin root that gives us 'abolition' — and it was abolitionists who helped end slavery across the British Empire in 1833.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of abolish
Abolish derives from the Latin 'abolere', meaning to destroy or cause to perish, formed from 'ab-' (away from) and the root of 'oleo'/'olescere' (to grow). It entered English via Old French 'aboliss-', the stem of 'abolir', appearing in English by the late medieval period. Closely related English derivatives from the same Latin root include abolition, abolitionist, and abolishment, while more distant cousins sharing the broader Latin lineage include abrogate and annihilate.
Related word forms
How abolish is actually used
Formal register; typically used with laws, institutions, taxes, penalties, and long-standing practices rather than everyday objects. Commonly appears in legal, political, and historical contexts. The object of 'abolish' is almost always something institutional or systemic — you would not say you abolished your old shoes.
Easily confused with abolish
Demolish means to tear down or destroy a physical structure, while abolish refers to formally ending a law, system, or practice.
Polish means to make something smooth or shiny; abolish means to formally end something.