revocation
C1Formal
Definition
Meaning
The official act of cancelling, withdrawing, or annulling something (like a law, licence, decision, or right) so that it is no longer valid.
Any action or instance of formally taking back or reversing something previously granted or established.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Almost always implies an official, formal, or authoritative action. Carries a sense of finality. Often used in legal, administrative, and diplomatic contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. UK usage might more commonly involve 'licence' (UK spelling) or 'certificate', while US usage frequently appears with 'driver's license' (US spelling) and 'permit'.
Connotations
Neutral-formal in both. Implies consequence and authority.
Frequency
Slightly more common in American English due to more frequent public discourse around constitutional rights (e.g., revocation of a constitutional amendment).
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
revocation of [NP]lead to the revocation of [NP]result in revocationVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A privilege held at the king's pleasure is subject to revocation at any moment.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The breach of contract could lead to the revocation of our exclusive distribution rights.
Academic
The philosopher discussed the social contract and the theoretical revocation of consent by the governed.
Everyday
Getting three speeding tickets might lead to the revocation of your driving licence.
Technical
The certificate authority initiated the revocation process, adding the compromised certificate to the CRL (Certificate Revocation List).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The council has the power to revoke the liquor licence.
- The terms allow the company to revoke access at its discretion.
American English
- The governor can revoke a pardon under certain circumstances.
- The university may revoke a degree for academic fraud.
adverb
British English
- The privilege was held revocably, dependent on good behaviour.
American English
- The permit was issued revocably, subject to annual review.
adjective
British English
- The revocable trust allowed for changes by the settlor.
- He was granted a revocable licence to occupy the premises.
American English
- A revocable living trust is a common estate planning tool.
- The offer was revocable until accepted in writing.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Driving drunk can cause the revocation of your license.
- The revocation of the rule made things simpler.
- The judge ordered the immediate revocation of his bail due to new evidence.
- Failure to comply with the terms will result in the automatic revocation of your membership.
- The treaty included a clause allowing for its unilateral revocation with twelve months' notice.
- The committee is reviewing the case for the revocation of his professional accreditation on ethical grounds.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of REVOCATION as RE-VOICE-ing an earlier decision. You 'voice' it again, but this time to take it back (re- meaning back/again).
Conceptual Metaphor
AUTHORITY IS A GIVER; REVOCATION IS TAKING BACK A GIFT.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as 'революция' (revolution).
- Do not confuse with 'ревизия' (revision, audit).
- Closer to 'аннулирование', 'отзыв', 'лишение (прав)'.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'revocation' (formal cancellation) with 'revision' (making changes).
- Using it in overly informal contexts.
- Misspelling as 'revokation' (the verb is 'revoke', but the noun is 'revocation').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'revocation' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Very similar, but 'revocation' is more formal and often implies an authoritative act of taking back something that was formally granted (like a licence or privilege). 'Cancellation' is broader and can be used for informal arrangements (like cancelling a subscription).
The verb is 'to revoke'.
No, it is a formal word. It is used in legal, administrative, diplomatic, and official business contexts. For everyday informal cancellations, use words like 'cancellation', 'withdrawal', or simply 'taking back'.
In computing and cybersecurity, a CRL is a list of digital certificates that have been revoked by the issuing Certificate Authority before their scheduled expiration date, typically because they are compromised or no longer trusted.
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