adj
Common
cancelled
Cancelled (adj) means No longer going ahead as planned. Example: “Fans were upset about the cancelled concert and queued for their refunds.”
adj
1
No longer going ahead as planned.
"The cancelled show would have drawn some 5,000 fans."
"Fans were upset about the cancelled concert and queued for their refunds."
"Because of the cancelled train, we walked home in the rain."
"The cancelled flight meant an overnight stay at the airport."
2
Informally, widely and lastingly shunned in public life after controversy.
"The cancelled comedian found that nobody would invite him onto a show any more."
"Some people fear being cancelled for one careless remark online."
"He was effectively cancelled after the old tweets resurfaced."
How to use cancelled
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishPast tense/adjective form of cancel; commonly spelled "canceled" in American English.
UK vs US
British English typically doubles the L ("cancelled"), while American English often uses a single L ("canceled").
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Rhymes for cancelled
See all rhymes for cancelled →Frequently asked questions
What does “cancelled” mean?
The word “cancelled” means no longer going ahead as planned. In plain terms, past tense/adjective form of cancel; commonly spelled "canceled" in American English.
How do you use “cancelled” in a sentence?
Here is “cancelled” used in a sentence: “The cancelled flight meant an overnight stay at the airport.”
What part of speech is “cancelled”?
“Cancelled” is an adjective.
Is “cancelled” a common word?
“Cancelled” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “cancelled” have?
“Cancelled” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: no longer going ahead as planned.
What is the difference between "cancelled" and "canceled"?
They are the same word spelled differently: "cancelled" with a double L is standard in British English, while "canceled" with a single L is preferred in American English. Both mean no longer going ahead as planned.
What is the difference between "cancelled" and "postponed"?
"Cancelled" means an event will not happen at all, while "postponed" means it has been delayed to a later date. A postponed meeting is rescheduled; a cancelled meeting is called off entirely.
When is "cancelled" used to describe a person?
Informally, a person is described as "cancelled" when they are widely and lastingly shunned in public life after a controversy, especially online. This social sense differs from the everyday meaning of an event being called off.
What preposition follows "cancelled"?
An event is usually "cancelled due to" or "cancelled because of" a reason, as in "the flight was cancelled due to weather." When people call something off, they use "cancel" with a direct object, as in "they cancelled the concert."
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