closure

noun

clo·​sure ˈklō-zhər 

1

: an act of closing : the condition of being closed

closure of the eyelids

business closures

the closure of the factory

2

: an often comforting or satisfying sense of finality

victims needing closure

also : something (such as a satisfying ending) that provides such a sense

3

: something that closes

pocket with zipper closure

child-resistant closures

4

[translation of French clôture] : cloture

5

: the property that a number system or a set has when it is mathematically closed under an operation

6

: a set that consists of a given set together with all the limit points of that set

7

archaic : means of enclosing : enclosure

Synonyms of closure

• cessation
• ending
• halt
• end
• close
• conclusion
• shutdown

Examples of closure in a Sentence

The government forced the closure of the factory.

I need to talk to him and get some closure on this issue.

Going to the memorial service for his late wife made it possible for him to achieve closure.

We all felt a sense of closure after our sister's murderer was sent to jail.

trying to bring closure to the victim's family

Recent Examples on the Web

Several attempts to absolve and absorb the liquid were unsuccessful, leading to a much longer closure than CHP officers had initially expected. —Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026

Wind speeds were blowing at 12 mph in Grant, with gusts up to 29 mph, and Fairplay was seeing winds at 21 mph with gusts of up to 38 mph at the time of the closure, according to AccuWeather. —Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 17 Mar. 2026

After closing for a renovation in 2016, the resort was decimated by the one-two punch of Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, resulting in a multi-year closure until 2020–only to shutter again during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Mar. 2026

According to Downing Street, the leaders discussed the impact of the strait’s closure on international shipping and the global economy. —Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 16 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin clausura, from clausus, past participle of claudere to close — more at close

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 7

Rhymes for closure

• crozier
• hosier
• mosher
• composure
• cynosure
• disclosure
• enclosure
• exposure
• foreclosure
• inclosure
• nondisclosure
• postexposure

Kids Definition

closure

noun

clo·​sure ˈklō-zhər 

1

a

: an act of closing

b

: the condition of being closed

2

: something that closes

a pocket with zipper closure

3

: the property of being closed under a mathematical operation

the set of whole numbers does not have closure under division

Medical Definition

closure

noun

clo·​sure ˈklō-zhər 

1

a

: an act of closing up or condition of being closed up

closure of the eyelids

early closure of fontanels and sutures

—W. A. D. Anderson

b

: a drawing together of edges or parts to form a united integument

wound closure by suture immediately after laceration

2

: a cap, lid, or stopper for sealing a container (as a serum vial)

3

: the perception of incomplete figures or situations as though complete by ignoring the missing parts or by compensating for them by projection based on past experience

4

: an often comforting or satisfying sense of finality

therapy brought closure to the victim's family