/ ˈkænsl; NAmE / verb ( -ll- , US -l- )
1.
[ vn ] to decide that sth that has been arranged will not now take place :
All flights have been cancelled because of bad weather.
Don't forget to cancel the newspaper (= arrange for it not to be delivered) before going away.
—compare postpone
2.
to say that you no longer want to continue with an agreement, especially one that has been legally arranged :
[ vn ]
to cancel a policy / subscription
Is it too late to cancel my order?
The US has agreed to cancel debts (= say that they no longer need to be paid) totalling $10 million.
[ v ]
No charge will be made if you cancel within 10 days.
3.
[ vn ] to mark a ticket or stamp so that it cannot be used again
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PHRASAL VERBS
- cancel out | cancel sth out
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (in the sense obliterate or delete writing by drawing or stamping lines across it ): from Old French canceller , from Latin cancellare , from cancelli crossbars.