termination

noun

ter·​mi·​na·​tion ˌtər-mə-ˈnā-shən 

1

: end in time or existence : conclusion

the termination of life

2

: the last part of a word

especially : an inflectional ending

3

: the act of terminating

4

: a limit in space or extent : bound

5

: outcome, result

terminational

ˌtər-mə-ˈnā-sh(ə-)nəl 

adjective

Synonyms

• bound
• boundary
• cap
• ceiling
• confines
• end
• extent
• limit
• limitation
• line

Examples of termination in a Sentence

The law protects against unfair contract termination.

the termination of a lease

an early termination of the contract

The company noted over 300 terminations last quarter.

Are there plans for the termination of unproductive employees?

Recent Examples on the Web

The termination was noted in a terse announcement in the federal government’s official publication Canada Gazette posted over the weekend. —Greg Evans, Deadline, 10 Feb. 2025

The Hollywood Reporter reached out to representatives for Sainte-Marie for direct comment over the Order of Canada termination, but has yet to hear back. —Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Feb. 2025

The Trump administration ordered all heads of federal departments and agencies Thursday to provide lists of their lowest-performing employees and signaled mass job terminations could be coming. —Joey Garrison, USA TODAY, 7 Feb. 2025

Read more: Venezuelans fight back against TPS termination, battling for right to stay in the U.S. A Venezuelan-American citizen who has lived in the U.S. for nearly a decade expressed outrage over the agreement between the Trump administration and Maduro. —Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 7 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 5

Phrases Containing termination

• pre-termination

Medical Definition

termination

noun

ter·​mi·​na·​tion ˌtər-mə-ˈnā-shən 

: an end or ending of something

especially : a distal end of an anatomical part