revocation

revocation — noun

1. the formal process by which an authority cancels a document, permission, or law,

1.nounC1
Definition

the formal process by which an authority cancels a document, permission, or law, so that it no longer has any legal force

Example

The government announced the revocation of the old trade agreement after months of negotiation.

revocation + of [agreement/treaty]

Hyun faced the revocation of his driving license after three serious traffic violations.

face + revocation of [license]

Common collocations
  • revocation of a license / permit / passport / visa
  • revocation of a contract / agreement / treaty
  • revocation of a law / regulation / order
  • face revocation
  • order the revocation of
  • appeal the revocation of
  • announce the revocation of
  • threaten with revocation
  • notice of revocation
  • letter of revocation
Synonyms
  • cancellation

    broader and less formal; used for events, bookings, subscriptions, and everyday situations, not just official permissions

  • annulment

    declares something legally invalid from the start (retroactive), whereas revocation takes effect from the moment of cancellation

  • repeal

    specific to legislation and statutes; used for removing laws or acts of parliament, not for individual permits or licenses

Antonyms
  • grant

    the act of giving or allowing something, the opposite of taking it back

  • authorization

    official permission or approval, which would be undone by revocation

Grammar Patterns

revocation + of [document/permission/law]

Usage Note

Almost exclusively used in legal, governmental, and administrative contexts. The noun is commonly followed by an 'of'-phrase specifying what is being revoked — common objects include 'license', 'permit', 'passport', 'visa', 'agreement', 'contract', 'treaty', and 'law'. The verb form 'revoke' is often more natural in everyday writing when the agent is specified.

Common Mistakes

The revocation of his visa was made by the immigration office.
The immigration office revoked his visa.
When the person or body performing the action is named, the verb 'revoke' is usually more concise and natural than the noun phrase 'revocation of... was made by...'.

Word family

  • revoke
    verbC1
  • revocable
    adjectiveC1
  • irrevocable
    adjectiveC1
  • irrevocably
    adverbC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe ending something that was previously in effect, but they differ in scope and register. 'Cancellation' is the most general — you can cancel a dinner reservation, a flight, a subscription, or a contract. 'Revocation' is narrower and more formal, applying to official permissions, licenses, and legal documents; it always involves an authority figure. 'Annulment' goes further: it declares something legally invalid from the very beginning, as in the annulment of a marriage. 'Repeal' is specific to statutes and legislation — for example, Congress may repeal a law. Use 'revocation' when a government or official body withdraws permission; use 'cancellation' for everyday situations, 'annulment' for retroactive voiding, and 'repeal' for legislative abolition.

cancellation ↗annulmentrepeal

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • letter of revocation
  • notice of revocation
  • grounds for revocation

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchAnglo-FrenchEnglish

From Latin 'revocare' (re- 'back' + vocare 'to call') meaning 'to call back'. The word passed into English through Old French 'revocacion' and Anglo-French legal terminology in the 15th century, initially carrying the sense of recalling or summoning back. By the 16th century it had taken on its modern legal meaning of formally cancelling or withdrawing an official grant, permission, or law.