What does repealed mean?
Repealed means that something officially established—such as a law, regulation, policy, or privilege—has been withdrawn or made invalid. The word is especially common in legal and political reporting, where it describes the formal revocation of legislation or official rules. For example, a parliament may repeal a law that it previously enacted, often replacing it with a different system or leaving the former provision in place without legal effect. Repealed can also describe an institution, agreement, or policy that has been abolished, although this broader use is less precise. Its tone is formal and authoritative, carrying the implication of deliberate action through recognized legal or institutional procedures. The word derives from the Latin root pellere, meaning “to drive” or “to push,” which also underlies related English words such as repel, compel, and expel. Understanding repeal is useful when reading political, legal, and historical material, since it identifies the formal end of a rule rather than merely describing neglect or a temporary suspension of it.
To officially revoke, annul, or abolish a law or other established rule.
"The government repealed the regulation that had restricted access to the records."
Usually transitive and formal. It is the past tense and past participle of repeal.
Having been officially revoked or annulled.
"The court continued to apply the repealed statute to cases filed before the reform took effect."
Commonly used attributively in legal and institutional contexts, especially before law, statute, regulation, or legislation.
The Twenty-First Amendment repealed Prohibition in 1933, making the Eighteenth Amendment a historical footnote.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does repealed come from?
Repeal developed in Middle English from Old French repealer, meaning “to revoke” or “abolish.” The French word drew on Latin repellere, formed from re- and pellere, “to drive” or “push.” This root also produced related English words including repel, compel, and expel.
How repealed is actually used
This is a formal word used especially in legal, political, and institutional contexts. It is primarily the past tense and past participle of the verb repeal, and it can also function attributively before a noun, as in “a repealed law.”
Easily confused with repealed
Repeal means to revoke or annul something, whereas repeat means to say, do, or perform something again.