obrogation
Very RareFormal / Technical (Legal)
Definition
Meaning
The act of altering or repealing a law by a subsequent law.
In broader legal discourse, it can refer to any annulment or modification of a rule, contract, or previous agreement through official or authoritative action.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
This term is almost exclusively confined to legal and legislative contexts. It implies a formal, sovereign, or legislative power to change or nullify existing law.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is extremely rare in both varieties. There are no significant dialectal differences in its core legal meaning.
Connotations
The word carries a formal, precise, and archaic connotation, typical of legal Latinisms. It suggests procedural and authoritative change.
Frequency
Used with near-identical rarity in British and American legal writing.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
the obrogation of [law/treaty/clause] (by [new law/act])Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms exist for this word]”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Used in advanced academic legal history or jurisprudence texts discussing the principles of legal change.
Everyday
Not used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Used technically in legal writing, particularly in civil law jurisdictions influenced by Roman law, to describe the repeal of a law by a later one.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The new statute obrogated the earlier provisions.
American English
- The Act of Congress obrogated the prior treaty obligations.
adverb
British English
- [Adverbial use does not exist for this word.]
American English
- [Adverbial use does not exist for this word.]
adjective
British English
- [Adjectival use is exceedingly rare; 'obrogative' is theoretically possible but unattested in common use.]
American English
- [Adjectival use is exceedingly rare; 'obrogative' is theoretically possible but unattested in common use.]
Examples
By CEFR Level
- [This word is far too advanced for A2 level.]
- [This word is far too advanced for B1 level.]
- The legal scholar wrote about the obrogation of outdated statutes.
- Implied obrogation occurs when a new law is fundamentally incompatible with an old one, thereby nullifying it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'OBROgation' as a law being 'OBstructed' or 'over-RULED' by a new law.
Conceptual Metaphor
LAW IS AN EDICT / AUTHORITY IS POWER TO ALTER (The legislature has the power to 'write over' or 'erase' previous legal writing).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'obligation' (обязательство). The Russian approximate term is 'отмена закона' or 'дерогация' (derogatsiya).
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'obligation' or 'abrogation'.
- Using it in non-legal contexts.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of 'obrogation'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an extremely rare and technical term used almost exclusively in formal legal writing.
They are near synonyms. 'Abrogation' is the more common general term for repeal or abolition. 'Obrogation' specifically highlights that the repeal is done *by a subsequent law*.
You should not. Using it would sound highly unnatural and pretentious. Use 'repeal' or 'revocation' instead.
It derives from Latin 'obrogare', meaning 'to annul (a law) by passing another'.