Flight Cancellation: Meaning, Examples & Key Tips

Meaning 1：cancelled flight (flight cancellation)

flight cancellation 🔊

/ˈflaɪt ˌkænsəˈleɪʃn/

When an airline decides not to operate a scheduled flight, usually due to bad weather or technical problems.

cancelled flight 🔊

➕

/ˈkænsəld flaɪt/

The decision by an airline not to operate a scheduled flight, typically due to adverse weather, technical problems, or other operational issues.

📁 Category：Transportation & Travel 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

'Flight' from Old English 'flyht'; 'Cancellation' from Latin 'cancellare' meaning 'to cross out'.

💡 Mnemonic

Imagine a big red 'CANCEL' stamp slammed onto a boarding pass. The flight is gone!

📖 Example

The flight cancellation due to heavy fog meant we had to spend an unexpected night at the airport hotel. 🔊 The flight cancellation due to heavy fog meant we had to spend an unexpected night at the airport hotel.

🔗 Collocations

mass flight cancellation – The cancellation of many flights at once, often due to a strike or natural disaster.

flight cancellation policy – Rules regarding refunds or rebooking when a flight is cancelled.

cause a flight cancellation – To be the reason a flight is cancelled.

🔄 Synonyms

cancellation (n.) – The act of cancelling something, here specifically a flight.

aborted flight (n.) – A flight that is terminated before completion.

scrubbed flight (n.) – An informal term for a flight that is cancelled at the last minute.

🚫 Antonyms

departure (n.) – The act of leaving, as opposed to cancellation.

takeoff (n.) – The moment a flight leaves the ground.

scheduled flight (n.) – A flight that is planned to operate as intended.

🌱 Derivatives

cancel (v.) – To call off a flight.

cancelled (adj.) – Describing a flight that has been cancelled.

📖 Cultural Story

The word 'cancellation' originates from Latin 'cancellare', where scribes crossed out errors with a lattice pattern. In aviation, a flight cancellation is a common event when airlines abort scheduled operations due to weather or technical faults.