# terminate

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈtɜːmɪneɪt/ · frequency rank #12,153

## Definitions
1. To end something, especially when left in an incomplete state.
2. To conclude.
3. To set or be a limit or boundary to.
4. To form an appropriate end on (a wire, cable, hose, pipe, etc), such as by applying a cable terminal or a hose ferrule.
5. To end the employment contract of an employee; to fire, lay off.
6. To kill someone or something.
7. To end, conclude, or cease; to come to an end.
8. Of a mode of transport, to end its journey; or, of a railway line, to reach its terminus.
9. To issue or result.

## Etymology
From Middle English terminaten (“to bring to an end; to adjudicate; to end, stop; to border, confine, contain”) from terminat(e) (“bounded”, also used as the past participle of terminaten) + -en (verb-forming suffix), borrowed from Latin terminātus, perfect passive participle of terminō (“to set bounds to, bound, limit, end, close, terminate”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from terminus (“a bound, limit, end”) + -ō (verb-forming suffix); see term, terminus. Doublet of termine, cognate with French terminer.

## Easily confused with
- **termite** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/terminate-vs-termite)
- **terminated** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/terminate-vs-terminated)
- **terminator** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/terminate-vs-terminator)
- **terminal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/terminal-vs-terminate)

## Common misspellings (13)
`etrminate`, `temrinate`, `terimnate`, `termiante`, `terminaet`, `terminatte`, `terminnate`, `termintae`, `termminate`, `termniate`, `terrminate`, `treminate`, `tterminate`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/terminate