cancel
The concert was canceled due to bad weather.
The concert was called off because of poor weather conditions.
To decide that a planned event, activity, or arrangement will not take place.
They canceled the meeting at the last minute.
They decided not to hold the meeting at the very last moment.
Often used in business, travel, and event planning contexts.
To officially withdraw or revoke something, such as a subscription, order, or agreement.
She decided to cancel her gym membership.
She chose to officially end her gym membership.
Common in contracts, services, and financial transactions.
To neutralize or offset something, such as a debt or obligation.
The company canceled out the loss with a gain in another department.
The company balanced the loss by achieving a gain elsewhere.
Used in accounting and financial contexts to describe offsetting entries.
(Noun) A mark or a stamp that cancels something, especially a postage stamp.
The stamp had a clear cancel mark.
The stamp showed a distinct mark indicating it had been used.
Common in philately (stamp collecting).
Collocations
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Avoid confusion with 'call off'
'Cancel' implies a decision to not proceed with something planned, while 'call off' suggests stopping something that has already started. For example, 'The game was called off due to rain' implies it started and was stopped, whereas 'The game was canceled due to rain' implies it never took place.
Gold Rule
Use 'cancel' for planned events
Use 'cancel' when referring to events, meetings, or activities that have been planned but will not take place. Avoid using it for actions that have already begun.
Word Origin
From Middle English cancellen, from Old French canceller, from Latin cancellāre 'to make like a lattice, annul', from cancellus 'lattice', diminutive of cancer 'crab, ulcer'. The sense of 'to annul' dates back to the 14th century.
Usage Notes
Cancel is often confused with 'call off' in informal contexts, but 'call off' implies a more immediate or urgent action. In formal writing, 'cancel' is preferred for clarity. The noun sense (as in a postmark) is less common outside of philately.