From Middle English cancellen, from Anglo-Norman canceler (“to cross out with lines”) (modern French chanceler (“to stagger, sway”)), from Old French canceler, from Latin cancellō (“to make resemble a lattice”), from cancellus (“a railing or lattice”), diminutive of cancer (“a lattice”).
Meanings
(US) A cancellation.
(US) A cancellation. ▸ A control message posted to Usenet that serves to cancel a previously posted message.
(obsolete) An enclosure; a boundary; a limit.
A prison is but a retirement, and opportunity of serious thoughts, to a person whose spirit[…]desires no enlargement beyond the cancels of the body. 1678, Antiquitates Christianæ: Or, the History of the Life and Death of the Holy Jesus: […], London: […] E. Flesher, and R. Norton, for R[ichard] Royston, […], →OCLC:
The suppression on striking out of matter in type, or of a printed page or pages.
da aflysning (cancellation) · it timbro postale (cancellation) · fr annulation (cancellation) · af kansellasie (cancellation) · id judul pengganti (printing: suppression on striking out of matter) · hi निरसन (cancellation) · it cassazione (cancellation) · de Lösch-Mitteilung (cancellation) · nl annulatie (cancellation) · da annullering (cancellation) · az ləğv (cancellation) · de Cancel-Anweisung (cancellation) · it cancellazione (cancellation) · it obliteratore (cancellation) · pt anulação (cancellation) · el ματαίωση (cancellation) · da afbestilling (cancellation) · it annullamento (cancellation) · de Undelete (printing: suppression on striking out of matter) · es funa (cancellation) · el ακύρωση (cancellation)
From Middle English cancellen, from Anglo-Norman canceler (“to cross out with lines”) (modern French chanceler (“to stagger, sway”)), from Old French canceler, from Latin cancellō (“to make resemble a lattice”), from cancellus (“a railing or lattice”), diminutive of cancer (“a lattice”).
Meanings
(transitive) To cross out something with lines etc.
A deed may be avoided by delivering it up to be cancelled; that is, to have lines drawn over it in the form of latticework or cancelli; the phrase is now used figuratively for any manner of obliterating or defacing it. 1765–1769, William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England, (please specify |book=I to IV), Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] Clarendon Press, →OCLC:
(transitive) To invalidate or annul something.
"I don't know what your agreement was, Herr Professor, but if it had money in it, cancel it. I want him to learn that lesson, too." 1914, Marjorie Benton Cooke, Bambi:
These also included not canceling the Christmas display, whose kitschiness drove him bonkers but which endured because people love it and because he is a populist and showman, despite his elitist veneer, and because he has a heart. 2008 January 9, Michael Kimmelman, “The Legacy of a Pragmatic Custodian of Human Civilization”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 14 Mar 2018:
AUKUS envisages a wide range of diplomatic and technological collaboration, from cybersecurity to artificial intelligence, but at its core is an agreement to start consultations to help Australia acquire a fleet of nuclear-propelled (though not nuclear-armed) submarines. One consequence of this is Australia cancelling a contract, worth tens of billions of dollars, signed in 2016 with France for diesel-electric submarines. In announcing AUKUS on September 15th with the prime ministers of Australia and Britain, Scott Morrison and Boris Johnson, President Joe Biden stressed that it was about “investing in our greatest source of strength—our alliances”. 2021 September 19, “The strategic reverberations of the AUKUS deal will be big and lasting”, in The Economist, archived from the original on 25 Oct 2021:
He cancelled his order on their website.
(transitive) To mark something (such as a used postage stamp) so that it cannot be reused.
This machine cancels the letters that have a valid zip code.
(transitive) To offset or equalize something.
The corrective feedback mechanism cancels out the noise.
(transitive) To remove a common factor from both the numerator and denominator of a fraction, or from both sides of an equation.
Such a 2-handle cancels the 1-handle so the manifold is D⁴. 2003, Gordana Matić, Clint McCrory, Topology and geometry of manifolds, →ISBN, page 182:
(transitive) To stop production of a programme.
(dated) To suppress or omit; to strike out, as matter in type.
(obsolete) To shut out, as with a railing or with latticework; to exclude.
cancelled from heaven 1667, John Milton, “Book VI”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
(slang) To kill.
(neologism, transitive) To cease to provide financial or moral support to (someone deemed unacceptable); to disinvite. Compare cancel culture.
Bill Gates is canceled. Gwen Stefani and Erykah Badu are canceled. Despite his relatively strong play in the World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo has been canceled. Taylor Swift is canceled and Common is canceled and, Wednesday, Antoni Porowski, a “Queer Eye” fan favorite was also canceled. Needless to say, Kanye West is canceled, too. 2018 June 28, Jonah Engel Bromwich, “Everyone Is Canceled”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 20 Apr 2020:
You may have never heard the term "cancel culture," but you certainly know some of the faces who have been canceled. Everyone from Cosby to Matt Lauer. […] "Some of my friends – I don't hang out with as much," said Jazz Moore. “I try to talk to them and explain why their behavior isn't cool before I cancel them." 2020 February 5, Russell Haythorn, “An explanation of ‘cancel culture’ and why it's become such a popular phenomenon”, in The Denver Channel, archived from the original on 15 Jul 2023:
We Spoke to Joan Cornellá, the Artist Who Really Should Have Been Cancelled By Now [title] 2019 May 17, Christopher Hooton, “We Spoke to Joan Cornellá, the Artist Who Really Should Have Been Cancelled By Now”, in VICE, archived from the original on 19 Aug 2024:
So this is my answer: If I am being canceled, I want my friends — and this includes not only my closest associates but any people who consider themselves friendly to me — to stand by, remain silent and do nothing. If you care about me, let them eat me alive. 2022 June 21, Agnes Callard, “If I Get Canceled, Let Them Eat Me Alive”, in The New York Times, →ISSN, archived from the original on 20 Jul 2022:
To attempt to cancel the founding generation is an attempt to cancel our own freedoms. 2020 July 3, Kristi Noem speech at Mount Rushmore, C-SPAN:
hi निरस्त (cross out) · da stemple (mark to prevent reuse) · af kanselleer (stop production) · nl schrappen (cross out) · pt invalidar (invalidate, annul) · yue 取消 (invalidate, annul) · af kanselleer (cease to provide financial or moral support to (someone deemed unacceptable)) · id bungkus (stop production) · pl skreślić (cross out) · ca cancel·lar (invalidate, annul) · pt anular (invalidate, annul) · de canceln (cease to provide financial or moral support to (someone deemed unacceptable)) · pt riscar (cross out) · cmn 勾 (cross out) · da annullere (invalidate, annul) · de (Unterstützung) streichen (cease to provide financial or moral support to (someone deemed unacceptable)) · hu felfüggeszti a gyártását (stop production) · fr oblitérer (mark to prevent reuse) · sh otkazati (invalidate, annul) · ko 취소하다 (invalidate, annul) · es funar (invalidate, annul) · ota بوزمق (invalidate, annul) · pl wstrzymać (stop production) · af kanselleer (mark to prevent reuse) · sv släcka ut (offset, equalize) · fr éliminer (remove a common factor) · sv upphäva (invalidate, annul) · uk касува́ти (invalidate, annul) · sk zrušiť (stop production) · ru погаси́ть (mark to prevent reuse) · it annullare (mark to prevent reuse) · de aufheben (offset, equalize) · it cassare (invalidate, annul) · cy canslo (remove a common factor) · hu kitaszít (cease to provide financial or moral support to (someone deemed unacceptable)) · bg анулирам (invalidate, annul) · fi yliviivata (cross out) · cy canslo (stop production) · ga cealaigh (invalidate, annul) · hi निरस्त (invalidate, annul) · fr neutraliser (offset, equalize) · af kanselleer (remove a common factor) · he ביטל (invalidate, annul) · fr résilier (invalidate, annul) · el διαγράφω (cross out) · af doodtrek (cross out) · nl annuleren (invalidate, annul) · ja 取り消す (invalidate, annul) · pl odwołać (invalidate, annul) · nb avlyse (invalidate, annul) · it obliterare (mark to prevent reuse) · vo nosükön (invalidate, annul) · fi mitätöidä (invalidate, annul) · ka გაბათილება (remove a common factor) · ms batal (invalidate, annul) · ja 破棄する (invalidate, annul) · ar أَبْطَلَ (invalidate, annul) · ja 取り止める (invalidate, annul) · sv förkorta (remove a common factor) · de kanzellieren (cease to provide financial or moral support to (someone deemed unacceptable)) · cy canslo (mark to prevent reuse) · la rescindō (invalidate, annul) · da afbestille (invalidate, annul) · de annullieren (invalidate, annul) · hu kitagad (cease to provide financial or moral support to (someone deemed unacceptable)) · de kanzellieren (cross out) · bg унищожавам (mark to prevent reuse) · grc ἀναιρέω (invalidate, annul) · es cancelar (cease to provide financial or moral support to (someone deemed unacceptable)) · sk škrtať (cross out) · ml ഒഴിവാക്കുക (invalidate, annul) · pt neutralizar (offset, equalize) · be адмяні́ць (invalidate, annul) · bg отменям (invalidate, annul) · sk rušiť (stop production) · pl anulować (invalidate, annul) · ka ანულირება (invalidate, annul) · de absagen (invalidate, annul) · bg съкращавам (remove a common factor) · it depennare (cross out) · th ยกเลิก (invalidate, annul) · fr compenser (offset, equalize) · hu sztorníroz (invalidate, annul) · az üstündən qələm çəkmək (cross out) · be адмяня́ць (invalidate, annul) · de einstellen (stop production) · hu érvénytelenít (invalidate, annul) · hu egyszerűsít (remove a common factor) · hu kihúz (cross out) · tl payiin (remove a common factor) · af kanselleer (invalidate, annul) · da forkorte (remove a common factor) · hu kizár (cease to provide financial or moral support to (someone deemed unacceptable)) · hu hanyagol (cease to provide financial or moral support to (someone deemed unacceptable)) · bg задрасквам (cross out) · ro anula (invalidate, annul) · hu kiközösít (cease to provide financial or moral support to (someone deemed unacceptable)) · az üstündən xətt çəkmək (cross out) · ota ابطال ایتمك (invalidate, annul) · de auslöschen (offset, equalize) · hu áthúz (cross out) · nb avbestille (invalidate, annul) · sv upphäva (offset, equalize) · it eliminare (cross out) · fi kumota (offset, equalize) · pt eliminar (remove a common factor) · nb stryke (cross out) · vi hủy (invalidate, annul) · ru зачёркивать (cross out) · hu töröl (cross out) · cs vyrušit (offset, equalize) · vi phong sát (cease to provide financial or moral support to (someone deemed unacceptable)) · ro anula (cross out) · hu érvénytelenít (mark to prevent reuse) · hu felbont (invalidate, annul) · el αντισταθμίζω (offset, equalize) · hu megsemmisít (invalidate, annul) · ka გადახაზვა (cross out) · tr iptal etmek (invalidate, annul) · cmn 廢除 /废除 (invalidate, annul) · it filtrare (offset, equalize) · eo nuligi (invalidate, annul) · de canceln (invalidate, annul) · et tühistama (invalidate, annul) · et kustutama (cross out) · ru отмени́ть (invalidate, annul) · ga síog (cross out) · it compensare (offset, equalize) · de durchstreichen (cross out) · ml റദ്ദാക്കുക (invalidate, annul) · fi kumota (invalidate, annul) · hu lepecsétel (mark to prevent reuse) · ru зачеркну́ть (cross out) · el ακυρώνω (mark to prevent reuse) · et taandama (remove a common factor) · cmn 取消 (invalidate, annul) · az ləğv etmək (invalidate, annul) · bg зачерквам (cross out) · be скасо́ўваць (invalidate, annul) · ja キャンセルする (invalidate, annul) · ru сократи́ть (remove a common factor) · it neutralizzare (offset, equalize) · tg қатъ кардан (invalidate, annul) · it annullare (invalidate, annul) · ota قازیمق (cross out) · hu visszamond (invalidate, annul) · be скасава́ць (invalidate, annul) · gsw abbschdelle (invalidate, annul) · fi poistaa (offset, equalize) · da ophæve (offset, equalize) · it cancellare (cross out) · de abstempeln (mark to prevent reuse) · uk скасува́ти (invalidate, annul) · sk krátiť (remove a common factor) · hu töröl (invalidate, annul) · ml റദ്ദാക്കുക (stop production) · hu kitöröl (cross out) · de entwerten (mark to prevent reuse) · nb avbryte (invalidate, annul) · sk rušiť (invalidate, annul) · de kürzen (remove a common factor) · hu felmond (invalidate, annul) · fr annuler (remove a common factor) · de auslöschen (slang: kill) · ka შეკვეცა (remove a common factor) · ka წაშლა (cross out) · hu felfüggeszt (invalidate, annul) · es cancelar (invalidate, annul) · cs zrušit (invalidate, annul) · nl schrappen (remove a common factor) · de entwerten (postage) (mark to prevent reuse) · hu megszüntet (invalidate, annul) · ar أَلْغَى (invalidate, annul) · cs škrtnout (cross out) · es funar (cease to provide financial or moral support to (someone deemed unacceptable)) · hy չեղարկել (invalidate, annul) · hu visszavon (invalidate, annul) · be касава́ць (invalidate, annul) · cy canslo (invalidate, annul) · da stryge (cross out) · fr annuler (invalidate, annul) · id menghentikan (stop production) · hu storníroz (invalidate, annul) · cs škrtat (cross out) · fr mettre fin (invalidate, annul) · hu lemond (invalidate, annul) · ru аннули́ровать (invalidate, annul) · fr se désabonner (invalidate, annul) · sk škrtnúť (cross out) · pt cancelar (cease to provide financial or moral support to (someone deemed unacceptable)) · de kanzellieren (invalidate, annul) · fi supistaa (remove a common factor) · cs stornovat (invalidate, annul) · fi peruuttaa (invalidate, annul) · de streichen (invalidate, annul) · it recidere (invalidate, annul) · ti ኣትርፍ (invalidate, annul) · sv stryka (över) (cross out) · af uitkanselleer (offset, equalize) · ru отсе́чь (offset, equalize) · fr décommander (invalidate, annul) · sw ghairi (invalidate, annul) · it invalidare (invalidate, annul) · sv stämpla (mark to prevent reuse) · nb oppheve (invalidate, annul) · el ακυρώνω (invalidate, annul) · da aflyse (invalidate, annul) · th ขีดฆ่า (cross out) · ru сокраща́ть (remove a common factor) · tg хат задан (cross out) · vi hủy bỏ (invalidate, annul) · cs krátit (remove a common factor) · pt cancelar (invalidate, annul) · sh otkazivati (invalidate, annul) · de stornieren (invalidate, annul) · fy annulearje (invalidate, annul) · ka გაუქმება (invalidate, annul) · de ausstreichen (cross out) · es tachar (cross out) · sv avbryta (invalidate, annul) · kw hedhi (invalidate, annul) · tg кам кардан (remove a common factor) · ru отменя́ть (invalidate, annul) · nl doorhalen (cross out) · uk скасо́вувати (invalidate, annul) · cy canslo (offset, equalize) · da strege ud (cross out) · pl skrócić (remove a common factor) · de weglassen (printing, dated: suppress or omit) · sv annullera (invalidate, annul) · cy croesi allan (cross out) · de abbestellen (invalidate, annul) · ru отсека́ть (offset, equalize) · cmn 划 (cross out) · sk zrušiť (invalidate, annul) · sv ta ut (offset, equalize) · ru погаша́ть (mark to prevent reuse)