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expunge

verb
ex·​punge | \ ik-ˈspÉ™nj How to pronounce expunge (audio) \
expunged; expunging

Definition of expunge

transitive verb

1 : to strike out, obliterate, or mark for deletion
2 : to efface completely : destroy
3 : to eliminate from one's consciousness expunge a memory
Other Words from expunge Synonyms Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about expunge

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Other Words from expunge

expunger noun

Did You Know?

In medieval and Renaissance manuscripts, a series of dots was used to mark mistakes or to label material that should be deleted from a text, and those deletion dots can help you remember the history of "expunge." They were known as "puncta delentia." The "puncta" part of the name derives from the Latin verb pungere, which can be translated as "to prick or sting" (and you can imagine that a scribe may have felt stung when his mistakes were so punctuated in a manuscript). "Pungere" is also an ancestor of "expunge," as well as a parent of other dotted, pointed, or stinging terms such as "punctuate," "compunction," "poignant," "puncture," and "pungent."

Examples of expunge in a Sentence

time and the weather have expunged any evidence that a thriving community once existed here

Recent Examples on the Web

 Cases from 2000 through 2012 are to be expunged by Jan. 1, 2023. — Robert Mccoppin, chicagotribune.com, "Expunging marijuana convictions: What you need to know," 30 Aug. 2019 On Tuesday, Chicago’s top prosecutor announced a partnership with Code For America that will push to automatically expunge tens of thousands of minor marijuana cases in Cook County under a new law passed in Illinois. — Essence, "Chicago Moves Toward Expunging Minor Marijuana Cases," 28 Aug. 2019 The judge who refused to expunge the conviction has said pardons don’t erase convictions or the facts of cases and that Arpaio’s clemency only mooted his possible punishments, according to the AP. — NBC News, "Advocates, Democrats decry Joe Arpaio's latest run for sheriff," 26 Aug. 2019 Over the next week, University of Detroit Mercy law students and other legal professionals will visit a handful of rural northern Michigan counties to help residents expunge their criminal records. — Angie Jackson, Detroit Free Press, "Northern Michigan residents can get help expunging criminal records at these clinics," 25 July 2019 In Illinois, about 770,000 arrests and convictions, representing about 314,000 people, must be automatically expunged. — John O’connor, SFChronicle.com, "Group to help Chicago clear pot arrests during legalization," 27 Aug. 2019 Also, suspension and expulsion records, with the exception of expulsions related to deadly weapons and/or firearms, are expunged and destroyed after a student graduates. — courant.com, "Community News For The Colchester Edition," 26 Aug. 2019 Some convictions, such as traffic offenses, cannot be expunged. — Angie Jackson, Detroit Free Press, "Northern Michigan residents can get help expunging criminal records at these clinics," 25 July 2019 Hill completed his probation last year, causing the domestic-abuse charges to be dismissed and his record to be expunged. — Mark Inabinett | [email protected], al, "All-Pro Tyreek Hill won’t be suspended, NFL announces," 19 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'expunge.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of expunge

1602, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for expunge

Latin expungere to mark for deletion by dots, from ex- + pungere to prick — more at pungent

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More Definitions for expunge

expunge

verb
How to pronounce expunge (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of expunge

formal : to remove (something) completely

See the full definition for expunge in the English Language Learners Dictionary

expunge

transitive verb
ex·​punge | \ ik-ˈspÉ™nj How to pronounce expunge (audio) \
expunged; expunging

Legal Definition of expunge

: to cancel out or destroy completely expunge the court records of an acquitted defendant

Other Words from expunge

expungement noun

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More from Merriam-Webster on expunge

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for expunge

Nglish: Translation of expunge for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of expunge for Arabic Speakers

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