abolition
noun
ab·o·li·tion
ˌa-bə-ˈli-shᵊn 
1
: the act of officially ending or stopping something : the act of abolishing something
abolition of the death penalty
2
: the act of officially ending slavery
a proponent of abolition
Examples of abolition in a Sentence
the abolition of a law
calls for the abolition of the death penalty
Recent Examples on the Web
Hours after the Thursday shooting, protesters reportedly gathered in front of Portland City Hall, calling for the abolition of ICE.
—
Chad De Guzman, Time, 9 Jan. 2026
Now recovered, his story is an example of the constant cross-Atlantic transmission of information and ideas that Gibson and Hazareesingh highlight as integral to the far-reaching struggle for abolition.
—Laurent Dubois, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2026
The talk will encompass later American revolutions which related directly to principles expounded on in the Declaration of Independence such as abolition and women’s suffrage and civil rights.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 4 Jan. 2026
Executions in several countries that retain the death penalty surged in 2025, despite abolition campaigns gaining momentum worldwide.
—Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 2 Jan. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Abolition.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abolition. Accessed 19 Jan. 2026.
Kids Definition
abolition
noun
ab·o·li·tion
ˌab-ə-ˈlish-ən
1
: the act of officially ending or stopping something : the act of abolishing
2
: the abolishing of slavery
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