English edit

Etymology edit

Learned borrowing from Latin expungere.

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /ɪkˈspʌnd͡ʒ/, /ɛkˈspʌnd͡ʒ/
  • (file)
  • Rhymes: -ʌndʒ

Verb edit

expunge (third-person singular simple present expunges, present participle expunging, simple past and past participle expunged)

  1. (transitive) To erase or strike out.
    • 1893, Congressional Record, page 1991:
      The gentleman from Texas [Mr. CRAIN] asks unanimous consent to expunge from the RECORD and from the Journal the motion to excuse the gentleman from Mississippi [Mr. ALLEN] []
  2. (transitive) To eliminate completely; to annihilate.
  3. (transitive, computing) To delete permanently (e-mail etc.) that was previously marked for deletion but still stored.

Derived terms edit

Related terms edit

Translations edit

Latin edit

Verb edit

expunge

  1. second-person singular present active imperative of expungō