revocation
Americannoun
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the act of revoking; annulment.
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Law. nullification or withdrawal, especially of an offer to contract.
noun
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the act of revoking or state of being revoked; cancellation
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the cancellation or annulment of a legal instrument, esp a will
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the withdrawal of an offer, power of attorney, etc
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Usage
What does revocation mean? Revocation is the withdrawal or cancellation of something. Revocation is a noun form of the verb revoke, which means to take back, withdraw, or cancel. Revoke and revocation are typically used in the context of officially taking back or cancelling some kind of right, status, or privilege that has already been given or approved. Passports and laws are subject to revocation, for example. In the context of law, revocation typically refers to the withdrawal of an offer or the nullification of a legal contract like a will. Example: The revocation of your privileges was a consequence of your repeated rule violations.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of revocation
1375–1425; late Middle English revocacion < Latin revocātiōn- (stem of revocātiō ) a calling back, equivalent to revocāt ( us ) (past participle of revocāre to revoke ) + -iōn- -ion
Explanation
After revocation, something has been officially taken away. You might protest the revocation of your car privilege if your parents take it away because you hit the mailbox again. Revocation refers to the cancelling or annulment of something by some authority. When revocation happens, a privilege, title, or status is removed from someone. If the library revokes your library card, you can no longer take out library books — that's a type of revocation. If a restaurant is dirty, that could result in the revocation of its health license. If a lawyer breaks the law, it could lead to the revocation of his license to practice law.
Vocabulary lists containing revocation
This Week in Words: November 10 - 16, 2018
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The foundation has filed an administrative lawsuit challenging the revocation of its licence.
From BBC ● Sep. 2, 2026
The visa revocation comes soon after senior U.S. officials described Mexico as a country controlled by drug traffickers and vowed to pursue Mexican officials who collude with the nation’s powerful cartels.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
Instead, it pointed to the scholarship revocation action as evidence of its oversight.
From Salon ● Jul. 27, 2026
Recall that the Haitian plaintiffs successfully convinced the lower court that the TPS revocation was based on unconstitutional racial bias.
From Slate ● Jun. 25, 2026
Although “debtor’s prison” is illegal in all states, many states use the threat of probation or parole revocation as a debt-collection tool.
From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
