terminated

IPA/ˈtɜː.mɪ.neɪt/
KK[tˈɚmənˌetɪd]IPA/ˈtɝː.mə.neɪt/

terminated — adjective

  • terminatedpositive
  • more terminatedcomparative
  • most terminatedsuperlative

1. describes something that has a natural finishing point or is designed to come to

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

describes something that has a natural finishing point or is designed to come to an end — as opposed to being permanent or ongoing

Example

The terminated contract is set to expire next June, so Yasmin's team is already planning the handover.

terminated + contract: contract with a fixed end date

Unlike permanent roles, terminated positions have a clearly stated end date in the offer letter.

contrast: terminated positions vs permanent roles

Common collocations
  • terminated contract
  • terminated position
  • terminated agreement
  • terminated account
Synonyms
  • finite

    more formal; stresses the existence of a limit rather than a design to end

  • limited-term

    common in job and contract descriptions; specifies the duration explicitly

Antonyms

Usage Note

This sense emphasises that something has a built-in end point by design, not that it has already finished. Compare with sense 2 (CONCLUDED), which describes something that HAS already ended.

Common Mistakes

The terminated agreement has already been cancelled by both parties.
The terminated agreement was designed to end when the project finished.
Sense 1 describes something that will end by its nature, not something that has already been cancelled.

2. describes something that has already reached its end point or been stopped fully

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

describes something that has already reached its end point or been stopped fully

Example

The terminated contract meant the company no longer had to supply materials to its former partner.

adjective describing a finished contract

Tara was one of twelve workers with a terminated employment agreement after the factory closed.

Common collocations
  • terminated contract
  • terminated lease
  • terminated account
  • terminated agreement
  • terminated employment
Synonyms
  • finished

    more common in everyday speech; less formal than terminated

  • ended

    neutral and widely used; less specific about the manner of ending

  • cancelled

    implies something was stopped by choice before its natural end

Antonyms
  • active

    currently in operation or effect

  • ongoing

    continuing without having stopped

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 1: sense 2 describes something that HAS already ended, while sense 1 describes something that WILL end by its nature.

Common Mistakes

The limited warranty is now terminated' (when you mean it has finished).
The warranty is now terminated and no longer covers repairs.
'Limited' describes the nature; 'terminated' says it is over.

terminated — verb

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All four words describe something finishing, but they differ in tone and scope. 'End' is the most neutral and widely used — you can end a meeting, a story, a relationship, or a war without sounding overly formal. 'Stop' is more abrupt and often implies an interruption: you stop a car, stop talking, or stop a fight, but you would not normally stop a contract (you would end or terminate it). 'Cease' is formal and frequently appears in legal or military language (cease fire, cease operations); it carries a sense of permanence that 'stop' lacks. 'Conclude' suggests a planned or natural finish — you conclude a speech, a deal, or a ceremony, but not a problem or a noise. In business writing, 'terminate' is the standard word for ending contracts, agreements, or employment, while 'end' works in less formal company policies. For example: 'The partners ended their relationship amicably' sounds warm and final; 'The partners terminated their agreement' sounds legal and neutral.

end ↗stop ↗cease ↗conclude ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Comes from Latin 'terminatus', the past participle of 'terminare' meaning 'to set a boundary, end, limit'. 'Terminare' itself comes from 'terminus' meaning 'boundary, end, limit' — a word the Romans used for boundary markers between properties or territories. English borrowed the word through French in the late 1500s, first using it in legal contexts to describe bringing agreements to a formal close.

First known use

15th century

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a Adjective