What does repeal mean?
Repeal is a formal word for officially undoing a law, regulation, or established rule. As a verb, it means to revoke legislation, cancel a prohibition, or reverse a governmental policy: a parliament may repeal a law, or a regulator may repeal a rule. As a noun, “repeal” names that act, as in “the repeal of the ban.” The word is especially associated with legal and political language in both British and American English, though it can also describe the cancellation of a company or institutional policy. Repeal suggests a deliberate, official change rather than a temporary interruption or a simple failure to enforce something. It is closely related etymologically to words such as repel and expel, all of which derive from the Latin verb pellere, “to drive.” Knowing repeal is useful because it identifies the specific legal action of removing a rule or law from force.
To officially revoke or abolish a law, regulation, rule, or established policy.
"The council repealed the restriction on nighttime noise."
The act of officially revoking or abolishing a law, regulation, rule, or established policy.
"The repeal of the prohibition took effect at the beginning of the year."
A countable noun used for individual instances of legally or officially revoking a law, rule, or policy.
"The court considered several repeals of the regulation and upheld the latest one."
Repeal has a dramatic legal history: the word literally carries the idea of driving something back, but it is now used to remove a law from the books.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does repeal come from?
The word comes through Anglo-French from the Latin verb repellere, meaning “to drive back,” formed from the prefix re- and pellere, “to drive.” Its early sense developed into the idea of rejecting or undoing an established law or ruling. The English verb dates from the late Middle English period, while the noun developed from the same source and became especially prominent in legal and parliamentary usage.
Related word forms
How repeal is actually used
Repeal is primarily formal and especially common in legal, governmental, and political contexts. It is usually transitive, as in “repeal a law,” and is often used with legislation, regulations, bans, and formal policies.
Easily confused with repeal
Repeal means to undo or abolish a law or rule, whereas repel means to drive away a person, force, or threat.