revoke

What does “revoke” mean?

verb.to put an end to the validity or operation of (a decree, decision, or promise).

SAT Usage

this term often appears in legal or political contexts, highlighting the cancellation or withdrawal of authority or rights. It emphasizes the formal and often serious nature of the action, distinguishing it from similar words like "cancel," which can imply a more casual or less significant annulment.

Common Confusions

Revoke implies an official and authoritative cancellation of rights or privileges, while cancel usually suggests a more general or informal termination of an event or arrangement.

Example Sentences

• I hereby revoke all former wills.

• The agency can revoke the permit for repeated violations.

Word Parts: How to Remember “revoke”

Break “revoke” into its parts: re- (again, back) + -voc- (voice, call). Knowing roots like these helps you decode unfamiliar SAT vocabulary.

• Prefix: re- again, back (Latin)
• Root: -voc- voice, call (Latin)