Abolished

Abolished is the form used to describe something that has been formally ended or prohibited by law or decree. The verb abolish originates from Old French abolir, from Latin abolere, meaning to destroy or remove. In legal and bureaucratic contexts, something described as abolished has had its legal basis removed and is no longer enforced or permitted.

Abolition targets may include social practices, institutions, or official privileges, such as slavery, serfdom, torture, or the death penalty, as well as discriminatory laws or administrative offices. Abolition movements seek reform through legislation, constitutional change, referenda, or executive action, often accompanied by transitional arrangements for those affected.

Implementation commonly involves repealing statutes, issuing new regulations, and creating measures to address rights, compensation, or transitional needs. Even after abolition, remnants of former regimes can persist in law, memory, or bureaucratic practice, requiring ongoing policy work and sometimes reform of institutions.

Notable milestones include the Slavery Abolition Act 1833 in the British Empire and the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1865. In the modern era, numerous countries have abolished the death penalty, while others retain it with varying degrees of restriction. Abolition remains a frequent topic in legal history and human-rights discourse.