terminal

1 of 2

adjective

ter·​mi·​nal ˈtər-mə-nᵊl 

ˈtərm-nəl

1

a(1)

: leading ultimately to death : fatal

terminal cancer

(2)

: approaching or close to death : being in the final stages of a fatal disease

a terminal patient

(3)

: of or relating to patients with a terminal illness

terminal care

b

: of, relating to, or occurring in a term or each term

terminal payments

c

: extremely or hopelessly severe

terminal boredom

2

a

: of or relating to an end, extremity, boundary, or terminus

a terminal pillar

b

: growing at the end of a branch or stem

a terminal bud

3

a

: occurring at or constituting the end of a period or series : concluding

the terminal moments of life

b

: not intended as preparation for further academic work

a terminal curriculum

terminally adverb

terminal

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: either end of a carrier line having facilities for the handling of freight and passengers

b

: a freight or passenger station that is central to a considerable area or serves as a junction at any point with other lines

c

: a town or city at the end of a carrier line : terminus

2

: a combination of a keyboard and output device (such as a video display unit) by which data can be entered into or output from a computer or electronic communications system

3

: a device attached to the end of a wire or cable or to an electrical apparatus for convenience in making connections

4

: a part that forms the end : extremity, termination

5

: a terminating usually ornamental detail : finial

Synonyms

Adjective

• final
• latest
• last
• closing
• latter
• concluding

Choose the Right Synonym for terminal

last, final, terminal, ultimate mean following all others (as in time, order, or importance).

last applies to something that comes at the end of a series but does not always imply that the series is completed or stopped.

last page of a book

last news we had of him

final applies to that which definitely closes a series, process, or progress.

final day of school

terminal may indicate a limit of extension, growth, or development.

terminal phase of a disease

ultimate implies the last degree or stage of a long process beyond which further progress or change is impossible.

the ultimate collapse of the system

Examples of terminal in a Sentence

Adjective

She was diagnosed with terminal cancer.

I was suffering from terminal boredom.

another person with terminal stupidity

branches that end in a terminal bud

Noun

I will meet you outside the bus terminal.

Flight 1584 is now departing from Gate 6 in Terminal A.

You are not allowed in the terminal without a ticket.

Ten terminals are connected to this server.

You will need to clean the corrosion off the battery terminals.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

His girlfriend at the time had fallen into a coma, his dog died, and his mom was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. —Preston Fore, Fortune, 28 Oct. 2025

The constant tug-of-war among the parties has driven concerns among ACP leadership that a concentration of terminal operators at the canal-adjacent ports would pose risks to the waterway’s neutrality. —Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 28 Oct. 2025

Noun

Once fully operational, the terminal is expected to triple the airport’s annual passenger capacity and double its cargo handling capability. —Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 29 Oct. 2025

Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets. —Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin terminalis, from terminus

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3a

Noun

1838, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Phrases Containing terminal

• in terminal decline
• inter-terminal
• terminal leave
• terminal side

Rhymes for terminal

• germinal
• subterminal

Kids Definition

terminal

1 of 2 adjective

ter·​mi·​nal ˈtərm-nəl 

-ən-ᵊl

1

a

: of, relating to, or forming an end

a terminal pillar of a temple

b

: growing at the end of a branch or stem

a terminal bud

2

a

: of, relating to, or occurring in a term or each term

make terminal payments on a car

b

: leading finally to death

a terminal illness

3

: occurring at or being the end of a period or series

terminally

-ē

adverb

terminal

2 of 2 noun

1

: a part that forms the end

2

: a device attached to the end of a wire or cable or to electrical equipment for making connections

3

a

: either end of a transportation line (as a railroad or shipping line) with its offices and freight and passenger stations

b

: a freight or passenger station that serves a large area or acts as a junction between lines

a bus terminal

c

: a town at the end of a transportation line

4

: a device (as in a computer system) used for data entry and display

Medical Definition

terminal

1 of 2 adjective

ter·​mi·​nal ˈtərm-nəl, -ən-ᵊl 

1

: of, relating to, or being at an end, extremity, boundary, or terminus

the terminal phalanx of a finger

2

a

: leading ultimately to death : fatal

terminal cancer

b

: approaching or close to death : being in the final stages of a fatal disease

a terminal patient

c

: of or relating to patients with a terminal illness

terminal care

3

: being at or near the end of a chain of atoms making up a molecule

the terminal carbon

terminally

-ē 

adverb

terminal

2 of 2 noun

: a part that forms an end

especially : nerve ending

synthesis of a neurotransmitter in the presynaptic terminal of a neuron

—R. J. Wurtman