Termination: meaning, definitions and examples

Used in formal or legal situations, typically indicating the ending of employment, contracts, or legal agreements. It can also have a negative connotation.

• The termination of his employment was a shock to everyone.
• The contract includes a termination clause.

A general term that can be used in a wide variety of situations to indicate the final point of something.

• At the end of the day, we were all exhausted.
• The movie had a surprising end.

Used to indicate the final part of something, especially a piece of writing, speech, or an argument.

• In conclusion, we should adopt a more sustainable approach.
• The conclusion of the book was very satisfying.

Often used to indicate the completion of a task, activity, or event. It can also refer to the final part of a race or competition.

• I need to finish my homework before dinner.
• She crossed the finish line first.

Used when talking about the finalization of something, especially a business, event, or a phase in life. It often has an emotional or psychological aspect.

• The closure of the old factory left many people without jobs.
• She finally achieved closure after years of uncertainty.

Formal context, often used in legal or business settings when an employment contract is ended.

• The company has announced the termination of several employees due to restructuring.
• The termination process includes an exit interview and final paperwork.

Formal and legal context, often implies that the employee was let go for specific reasons such as misconduct or poor performance.

• His dismissal was a result of repeatedly violating company policies.
• The court upheld her wrongful dismissal claim.

Informal context, often used in everyday conversations and implies that the employee was removed from their position, possibly due to performance issues or other immediate concerns.

• The manager had no choice but to fire him after the incident.
• She was fired on the spot for her insubordinate behavior.

Informal context, mainly British English, often carries a more negative connotation, suggesting a more abrupt or harsh decision to terminate employment.

• He faced the sack after the company discovered the fraud.
• The CEO's sacking was headline news.

Neutral context, often used when employees are let go due to financial difficulties of the company or organizational downsizing, not related to the employee's performance.

• The economic downturn led to massive layoffs in the industry.
• She was laid off because the company needed to cut costs.

Used often in legal or formal settings to indicate the end of a contract, agreement, or employment.

• The company announced the termination of his contract.
• She received a notice of termination from her employer.

Used in everyday situations to indicate that an event, order, or booking has been called off or is no longer going to happen.

• The concert was cancelled due to bad weather.
• She called to confirm the cancellation of her order.

Commonly used in legal contexts, particularly in reference to declaring something invalid, such as a marriage or a formal decision.

• They requested an annulment of their marriage.
• The court granted an annulment of the contract.

Often used in legal or formal contexts to indicate making something invalid or null, such as contracts or legal documents.

• The court's decision resulted in the voiding of the agreement.
• They are seeking voiding of the existing contract.

Typically used in a legal or governmental context to describe the act of formally ending a law, agreement, or treaty.

• The abrogation of the treaty was a significant political event.
• There was a heated debate over the abrogation of old laws.