verb
quash
kwosh
Quash (verb) means to officially cancel or reject a legal decision, charge, or order. Example: “The appeals court quashed the conviction.”
verb
1
To officially cancel or reject a legal decision, charge, or order.
"The appeals court quashed the conviction."
"A judge quashed the subpoena on procedural grounds."
2
To forcefully put an end to something, such as a rebellion or rumor.
"The government moved quickly to quash the uprising."
"She quashed the rumors with a single tweet."
How to use quash
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo officially cancel something, or to forcefully stop it.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "squash," which means to physically crush something flat; quash is about stopping or canceling, usually in a legal or authoritative sense.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
quash a conviction
quash rumors
quash a rebellion
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like quash.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Third person singular
- quashes
- Past tense
- quashed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The appeals court _____ the conviction.
Etymology
From Old French quasser, from Latin quatere, "to shake," blended with Latin cassare, "to annul."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for quash
See all rhymes for quash →Frequently asked questions
What does “quash” mean?
The word “quash” means to officially cancel or reject a legal decision, charge, or order. In plain terms, to officially cancel something, or to forcefully stop it.
How do you pronounce “quash”?
“Quash” is pronounced kwosh (/kwɑʃ/ in IPA).
How do you use “quash” in a sentence?
Here is “quash” used in a sentence: “The appeals court quashed the conviction.”
What part of speech is “quash”?
“Quash” is a verb.
Where does the word “quash” come from?
The word “quash” comes from Latin. From Old French quasser, from Latin quatere, "to shake," blended with Latin cassare, "to annul.".
How many meanings does “quash” have?
“Quash” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to officially cancel or reject a legal decision, charge, or order.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include quash:
