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Definition of cancel in English:

cancel

Pronunciation /ˈkansəl/ /ˈkænsəl/

See synonyms for cancel

Translate cancel into Spanish

transitive verbcancels, canceling, canceled, cancelling, cancelled

[with object]

  • 1Decide or announce that (a planned event) will not take place.

    • ‘he was forced to cancel his visit’
    call off, abandon, scrap, drop
    View synonyms
    1. 1.1Annul or revoke (a formal arrangement which is in effect)
      • ‘his visa had been canceled’
      annul, invalidate, nullify, declare null and void, render null and void, void
      View synonyms
    2. 1.2Abolish or make void (a financial obligation)
      • ‘I intend to cancel your debt to me’
    3. 1.3Mark, pierce, or tear (a ticket, check, or postage stamp) to show that it has been used or invalidated.
      • ‘canceled checks’

  • 2(of a factor or circumstance) neutralize or negate the force or effect of (another)

    • ‘the electric fields may cancel each other out’
    neutralize, counterbalance, counteract, balance, balance out, countervail
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    1. 2.1Mathematics Delete (an equal factor) from both sides of an equation or from the numerator and denominator of a fraction.
      • ‘“‘Divide by 9” cancels out “multiply by 9”’

noun

  • 1A mark made on a postage stamp to show that it has been used.

    • ‘a stamp franked and with an adhesive cancel’

  • 2Printing
    A new page or section inserted in a book to replace the original text, typically to correct an error.

    • ‘a cancel title page’

Origin

Late Middle English (in the sense ‘obliterate or delete writing by drawing or stamping lines across it’): from Old French canceller, from Latin cancellare, from cancelli ‘crossbars’.