Expunges

/ɪkˈspʌndʒɪz/ verb

Definition

Erases, removes, or destroys something completely, especially records or unwanted information.

Etymology

Third person singular present tense of 'expunge'. The word 'expunge' itself comes from Latin 'expungere' (ex- 'out' + pungere 'to prick').

Kelly Says

In modern legal writing, you'll see 'expunges' frequently in statutes describing how courts remove criminal records—it's a word that changed meaning when it moved from literal 'scratching out' in manuscripts to metaphorical removal of official information.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.