US and UK English
cancelled vs canceled
Regional usage, spelling, pronunciation, and examples
Canceled with one L is preferred in American English. Cancelled with two Ls is preferred in British English and many other English varieties. They mean and sound the same.
Reference accent
Reference recordings are AI-generated. Nothing is recorded.
Regional decision guide
Match the spelling to your audience
Neither spelling changes the meaning or pronunciation. Choose one regional convention and use it consistently within a document.
United States
canceled / canceling
American English
Canceled and canceling are the usual edited spellings, although cancelled also appears and is understood.
The airline canceled the flight.
United Kingdom and many Commonwealth varieties
cancelled / cancelling
British English
Cancelled and cancelling normally double the L before the vowel suffix.
The airline cancelled the flight.
All major varieties
cancellation
Shared exception
Cancellation normally has two Ls in both American and British English.
We received a cancellation notice.
Direct answer
What is the difference?
Both are correct past-tense and past-participle forms of cancel. American spelling usually does not double the final L before -ed or -ing because the last syllable of cancel is unstressed; British spelling usually doubles it. American English still writes cancellation with two Ls, an important exception to remember.
American English
Hear the shared pronunciation
These terms share a standard pronunciation. Use the recordings to learn the sound, then use meaning and context to choose the spelling.
Word 1
cancelled
verb form, British spelling
Called off, stopped, or made no longer valid; the usual UK spelling.
US pronunciation
/ˈkænsəld/
UK IPA
/ˈkænsəld/
Hear three samples
How to pronounce it
Stress KAN and reduce the middle vowel. The doubled written L does not create an extra sound or syllable.
Word 2
canceled
verb form, American spelling
Called off, stopped, or made no longer valid; the usual US spelling.
US pronunciation
/ˈkænsəld/
UK IPA
/ˈkænsəld/
Hear three samples
How to pronounce it
Use exactly the same two-syllable pronunciation as cancelled. The single L is only a spelling choice.
Listen in context
6 example sentences
Context makes meaning, grammar, and natural rhythm easier to understand. Every sentence has its own playback.
Examples with
cancelled
- The concert was cancelled because of heavy rain.
- She cancelled her appointment by email.
- All cancelled tickets will be refunded.
Examples with
canceled
- The concert was canceled because of heavy rain.
- He canceled the transfer before it was processed.
- The app displays all canceled reservations.