What does quash mean?
Quash is a verb meaning to put an end to something, especially to invalidate a decision, ruling, or other official action. It can also mean to suppress a rumor, proposal, movement, or plan. The word is especially associated with legal language: a court may quash a conviction or quash an earlier order. In broader use, quashing an idea or silencing a rumor can sound deliberately blunt or dismissive. Quash is often confused with squash, but the words have different meanings and histories: quash concerns suppression or nullification, whereas squash concerns pressing flat or reducing something to a compact form. The term is more formal than everyday alternatives such as suppress or cancel, yet remains perfectly natural in professional and legal contexts. It is also an unusual example of a word whose sound has led to a long-standing spelling and meaning confusion with squash, despite their unrelated origins.
verbTo suppress or put an end to something, especially by officially rejecting it. In legal contexts, it means to invalidate a decision, ruling, or order.
- To put an end to or suppress something, such as a rumor, proposal, movement, or plan.
- To annul or invalidate a decision, ruling, conviction, or order, especially through legal authority.
- To crush or flatten completely; rare and dated in modern usage.
"The appellate court quashed the lower court's ruling and ordered a new hearing."
"The appellate court quashed the conviction because of a serious error during the trial."
"Quash the rumor before it spreads through the office."
Quash and squash rhyme and are often confused, but they do not share an origin: one suppresses or nullifies, while the other flattens.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does quash come from?
Quash entered English in the early 16th century from French quencher, meaning “to extinguish or quench,” a form related to Old French quenchier and ultimately to Latin extinguere. Its sense developed from putting out or suppressing something to the modern legal meaning of annulling or invalidating an official decision. It is unrelated in origin to squash, despite the similarity in their pronunciation.
Related word forms
How quash is actually used
Quash is especially formal and is strongly associated with legal and official contexts. In broader use, particularly in British English, it can sound blunt or dismissive when applied to hopes, proposals, or rumors. It is usually transitive.
Easily confused with quash
To quash is to suppress or invalidate something, whereas to squash is to press something flat or reduce it to a smaller form.