To remove legal status or enforcement from something; to render something unlawful or outside the legal system.
From 'de-' (reverse/remove) + 'law.' A relatively rare formation following the pattern of other 'de-' verbs, emerging in legal and political discourse.
When countries 'delaw' something—making it illegal when it was previously legal—they're often trying to prevent harm, but the word reveals how laws are human constructs we can remake.
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