Cancel

Definition

Cancel is a verb and a noun. As a verb, it means to call off, annul, or discontinue an event, order, or plan. As a noun, it refers to the action or result of cancelling.

Parts of Speech

• Verb
• Noun

Pronunciation

American English

• IPA Pronunciation: /ˈkænsəl/
• Respelling: KAN-suhl

British English

• IPA Pronunciation: /ˈkænsəl/
• Respelling: KAN-suhl

Etymology

The word "cancel" originates from the Latin "cancellare," meaning "to cross out with lines" or "to annul." It was adapted into Middle English from Old French "canceller," retaining its meaning of annulling or ending an action.

Derivatives

• Cancellation (noun)
• Cancelled (adjective)
• Cancelable (adjective)
• Re-cancel (verb)
• Canceling (verb)

Synonyms

• Annul
• Revoke
• Abort

Antonyms

• Confirm
• Approve
• Proceed

Usage

The verb "cancel" is often used to indicate that an event or plan has been called off, as in "They decided to cancel the meeting." The noun form refers to the act of stopping or discontinuing something, for example, "The concert faced a last-minute cancellation due to weather."

Related Terms

• Annul: To declare invalid or nullify.
• Revoke: To take back or withdraw an offer or privilege.
• Postpone: To delay an event or action to a later time.

Detailed Definitions

Verb

• To call off or annul an event or order: Describes the act of discontinuing a planned event or action.
  • Example: "They had to cancel the show due to technical difficulties."
• To mark something as void or unusable: Commonly used to describe crossing out or marking stamps or other documents as void.
  • Example: "The post office cancels stamps after they are used."

Noun

• The act or result of cancelling something: Refers to an action that halts a scheduled plan or event.
  • Example: "The airline announced a cancellation of several flights."