First Known Use: 1526
Dictionary
abrogate
verb ab·ro·gate \ˈa-brə-ˌgāt\
: to end or cancel (something) in a formal and official way
: to fail to do what is required by (something, such as a responsibility)
ab·ro·gat·edab·ro·gat·ing
Full Definition of ABROGATE
transitive verb
1
: to abolish by authoritative action : annul
2
: to treat as nonexistent <abrogating their responsibilities>
— ab·ro·ga·tion \ˌa-brə-ˈgā-shən\ noun
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Examples of ABROGATE
- If UAL continues to bleed red ink, some analysts say bankruptcy—which would allow it to abrogate its union contracts—may be its only hope. —Business Week, 12 Nov. 2001
- We may not always like what we hear but we are always the poorer if we close down dialogue; if we abrogate free speech, and the open exchange of ideas. —Nikki Giovanni, Sacred Cows … and Other Edibles, 1988
- For their part, some of the pipeline companies saddled with these contracts for high-priced, deregulated gas have declared that they will simply abrogate them … —Barry Commoner, New Yorker, 2 May 1983
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Origin of ABROGATE
Latin abrogatus, past participle of abrogare, from ab- + rogare to ask, propose a law — more at right
Related to ABROGATE
Synonym Discussion of ABROGATE
nullify, negate, annul, abrogate, invalidate mean to deprive of effective or continued existence. nullify implies counteracting completely the force, effectiveness, or value of something <a penalty nullified the touchdown>. negate implies the destruction or canceling out of each of two things by the other <the arguments negate each other>. annul suggests making ineffective or nonexistent often by legal or official action <the treaty annuls all previous agreements>. abrogate is like annul but more definitely implies a legal or official act <a law to abrogate trading privileges>. invalidate implies making something powerless or unacceptable by declaration of its logical or moral or legal unsoundness <the court invalidated the statute>.
Other Government and Politics Terms
Rhymes with ABROGATE
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