- Today's Word
Abrogate
Abrogate
AB-ruh-gayt
Definition
(verb) To abolish, repeal, or put an end to something (especially a law, policy, or agreement).
Example
The committee voted to abrogate the outdated regulation, clearing the way for more modern standards.
Word Origin
From Latin abrogare, meaning “to repeal” or “to take away by law.”
Fun Fact
The word abrogate often appears in legal, political, and diplomatic contexts because it refers to formal or authoritative cancellation—not just casual discontinuing. Interestingly, some treaties have been “abrogated by conduct,” meaning nations effectively ended them simply by acting differently rather than announcing a repeal. The term highlights how powerful the act of unmaking a rule can be—sometimes as impactful as creating one.