termination

noun

ter·​mi·​na·​tion ˌtər-mə-ˈnā-shən How to pronounce termination (audio)
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
terminational adjective

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The draft that the Senate released over the weekend sets a single termination date: Sept. 30th, three months from now. Camila Domonoske, NPR, 30 June 2025 The phone line terminations serve as a testing ground for the task force's approach to cost reduction across federal agencies. Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 June 2025 Hundreds of miles removed from the site of his arrest, Scott was finally able to find employment — though even here, being outed to his workplace would mean termination. Madelyn Harrington, Chicago Tribune, 27 June 2025 The protest against termination was one of my first demonstrations. Nick Estes, New Yorker, 26 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for termination

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 5

Time Traveler
The first known use of termination was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Termination.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/termination. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.

Medical Definition

termination

noun
ter·​mi·​na·​tion ˌtər-mə-ˈnā-shən How to pronounce termination (audio)
: an end or ending of something
especially : a distal end of an anatomical part

More from Merriam-Webster on termination

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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