Difference Between Abolish and Demolish

Key Difference – Abolish vs Demolish
 

Abolish and demolish both mean to put an end to something. Demolish means to destruct or damage something so that it cannot be repaired. Abolish means to officially put an end to something. The key difference between abolish and demolish is that abolish is used to refer to a law, system, or a practice whereas demolish is used to refer to a building or a structure.

What Does Abolish Mean?

Abolish means to officially put an end to or stop something. Abolish is usually used to refer to an end of a practice, system, law, or an institution. Abolish is a transitive verb, and cannot be used without an object. The noun form of abolish is abolishment.

Slavery was abolished in 1865.

The president took the decision to abolish the tax last year.

He argued that death penalty should be abolished.

Many countries in the world have abolished the capital punishment.

        2 years after the revolution, the monarchy was abolished.

What Does Demolish Mean?

Demolish means to destroy something or to damage something so that it cannot be repaired again. This is mainly used to describe the destruction of buildings, bridges, roads, and other structures.

The old house was demolished to make way for the new apartment complex.

The school decided to demolish the old hall because it was too costly to maintain.

They used explosives to demolish the building.

The new governor hopes to restore the old building rather than have it demolished.

The car was demolished in the crash.

The consultant advised that the building be demolished.

As seen from the above examples, demolish is a transitive verb, i.e., it is followed by an object. Demolishment or demolition is the noun of demolish.

What is the difference between Abolish and Demolish?

Meaning:

Abolish means to officially put an end to something.

Demolish means to destroy or tear down something.

Use:

Abolish refers to laws, practices, systems, and institutions.

Demolish refers to buildings and other structures.

Noun:

Abolishment is the noun of abolish.

Demolishment or demolition is the noun of demolish.

Image Courtesy:

“Abolish child slavery” By Bain News Service photograph – Library of Congress. Reproduction number:LC-DIG-ppmsca-06591 (digital file from original photo, later scan)LC-DIG-ppmsc-00150 (digital file from original photo, earlier scan)LC-USZ62-22198 (b&w film copy neg.) (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia

“1082855” (Public Domain) via Pixabay