terminator

noun

ter·​mi·​na·​tor ˈtər-mə-ˌnā-tər How to pronounce terminator (audio)
1
: the dividing line between the illuminated and the unilluminated part of the moon's or a planet's disk
2
: one that terminates

Examples of terminator in a Sentence

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 57-mile-wide (93 km) Copernicus Crater will also be easily visible on the nights surrounding May 20 a little left of the terminator, close to the lunar equator. Anthony Wood, Space.com, 19 May 2025 The area at the left of the craters and terminator is the Borealis Planitia, Mercury’s largest expanse of smooth volcanic plains, which was formed by large volcanic eruptions 3.7 billion years ago. Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Jan. 2025 Caroline and Gabe were completely respectable for Tuku, however — solving their fire puzzle in what probably would have been a winning time if not playing against total puzzle terminators. Dalton Ross, EW.com, 10 Oct. 2024 This tenderness, allies say, is lost in the caricature of Freedman — often bolstered by the attorney himself — as a cold-blooded legal terminator. Gary Baum, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 June 2024 See All Example Sentences for terminator

Word History

First Known Use

1652, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of terminator was in 1652

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Terminator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/terminator. Accessed 22 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on terminator

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!