expunge

What does “expunge” mean?

verb.to erase or remove completely (something unwanted or unpleasant).

SAT Usage

the term often appears in contexts involving legal or personal matters, such as the removal of records or memories. It emphasizes a complete and thorough elimination, suggesting a desire to forget or nullify something significant, which differs from "delete" that may imply a simpler act of removal without the connotation of permanence.

Common Confusions

Expunge implies a thorough and permanent removal of something unwanted, while eliminate usually suggests a less absolute act of removal that may not guarantee complete eradication.

Example Sentences

• She petitioned the court to expunge the old arrest from her record.

• The committee needed to expunge the proposal before making a final decision.

Word Parts: How to Remember “expunge”

Break “expunge” into its parts: ex- (out of, from). Knowing roots like these helps you decode unfamiliar SAT vocabulary.

• Prefix: ex- out of, from (Latin)