expungement en · NOUN
Etymology
Etymology tree English expunge Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥ Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥tom Proto-Italic *-mentom Latin -mentum Old French -mentbor. Middle English -ment English -ment English expungement From expunge + -ment.
Meanings
- (countable, uncountable) The act of expunging.
-
(Canada, US, countable, uncountable) The process by which the record of a criminal conviction is erased, destroyed or sealed.
In a memorandum in support of the expungement motion, Atty. John Ward argues that the retention of his clients' records "is and will be of great harm to them."
1979 April 7, David Brill, “BPL Arrests: A Year Later”, in Gay Community News, page 1:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| expungements | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Relateds
conviction · non compos mentis · guilt · pardoning · ex-con · innocence · amnesty · commutation · no contest · acquital