expunge

/ɪkˈspʌnd͡ʒ/

//ɪkˈspʌnd͡ʒ// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"expunge" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“expunge” is an uncommon English word, ranked #69,039 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#69,039
frequency rank, English
7
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To erase or strike out.

Key facts for expunge
PropertyValue
Headwordexpunge
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ɪkˈspʌnd͡ʒ/
Letters7
Frequency rank#69,039
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “expunge” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). expunge lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for expunge is 7 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ɪkˈspʌnd͡ʒ/. Corpus data places it at rank #69,039 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

No misspelling variants are generated for expunge in our index, since its letter sequence doesn't invite the usual edit-distance slips. This entry stands alone in our confusable dataset, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.

Etymologically, the entry records: Learned borrowing from Latin expungere. The correct English form is expunge, spelled E-X-P-U-N-G-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To erase or strike out.
  2. 2
    To eliminate completely; to annihilate.
  3. 3
    To delete permanently (e-mail etc.) that was previously marked for deletion but still stored.

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Latin expungere.

This word in other languages

borrar(Español)effacer(Français)durchstreichen(Deutsch)expungir(Português)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "expunge"?
"expunge" is spelled E-X-P-U-N-G-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ɪkˈspʌnd͡ʒ/.
What does "expunge" mean?
As a verb, "expunge" means: To erase or strike out.
How do you pronounce "expunge"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "expunge" is /ɪkˈspʌnd͡ʒ/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "expunge"?
Learned borrowing from Latin expungere. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “expunge”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is E-X-P-U-N-G-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ɪkˈspʌnd͡ʒ/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list