Cancel Meaning and Definition
Cancel
Pronunciation
/ˈkænsəl/
Part of Speech
Noun
Definition
A cancellation or revocation of an arrangements, plans, or decisions, often due to changing circumstances or unexpected events.
Examples
- I had to cancel my plans due to the weather.
- The movie theatre cancelled the screening due to a fire alarm.
Synonyms
- Decline
- Rescind
Antonyms
- Confirm
- Execute
Etymology
The word “cancel” comes from the Latin “calculus,” meaning “small stone” or “pebble,” likely due to the original use of pebbles as markers to cancel or cross out written text.
Usage Notes
Congruently, cancellations may be used in formal or informal contexts, but it’s often more formal and professional to use “cancel” instead of “cancel out” or “call off.”
Cultural References
Cancellation has been featured in various forms of media, such as the idiom “cancel the apocalypse” in the TV show Rick and Morty, or the concept of “cancel culture” in social media discussions.
Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases
- Cancel the noise
- Cancel the meeting
- Cancel the plan
Related Words or Phrases
- Abandon
- Disregard
- Edit
Collocations
- Cancel out
- Cancel plans
- Cancel reservations
Frequency of Use
According to Google’s Ngram Viewer, the frequency of “cancel” has increased steadily since the 1950s and has remained high in recent years, indicating its growing importance in modern language.
Common Misspellings
Common misspellings of “cancel” include “canseal,” “cancle,” and “canzal.”