repeal

UK: /rɪˈpiːl/ US: /rɪˈpil/ ,(ri pēl′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

re•peal /rɪˈpil/   v. [~ + object]

1. to do away with officially or formally;
   cancel:
   The county repealed the increase in taxes.

n. [countable]

2. the act of repealing.

See -pel-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

re•peal  (ri pēl′), v.t. 

1. to revoke or withdraw formally or officially:
   to repeal a grant.
2. Government to revoke or annul (a law, tax, duty, etc.) by express legislative enactment;
   abrogate.

n. 

3. the act of repealing;
   revocation;
   abrogation.

• Anglo-French repeler, equivalent. to re- re- + (a)peler to appeal
• Middle English repelen 1275–1325

re•peal′a•bil′i•ty, re•peal′a•ble•ness, n. 
re•peal′a•ble, adj. 
re•peal′er, n. 
Synonyms

• 2. nullify, abolish, rescind, invalidate.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

repeal / rɪˈpiːl/ verb (transitive)

1. to annul or rescind officially (something previously ordered); revoke: these laws were repealed

noun

1. an instance or the process of repealing; annulment

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French repeler, from re- + apeler to call, appeal

reˈpealable adjective

reˈpealer noun