expunction

[ ik-spuhngk-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act of expunging; erasure.

Word History and Origins

Origin of expunction¹

1600–10; < Late Latin expūnctiōn- (stem of expūnctiō ) a blotting out, equivalent to Latin expūnct ( us ) blotted out (past participle of expungere to expunge ) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

The National Congress of American Indians said on Saturday that Mr. Santorum’s remarks “propagated systematic expunction of American Indian peoples’ culture and contributions to the United States.”

From New York Times

These and other expunction laws are designed to remove what are deemed as youthful indiscretions that show up in background checks for employment and housing.

From Washington Times

Criminal pardons and expunctions cannot be considered in hiring, either.

From Washington Times

The measure, which cleared the House last week, builds upon recent expunction laws that allow people who committed crimes due to youthful indiscretions to eliminate obstacles in background checks for employment, housing and other needs.

From Washington Times

Some lawmakers worried the bill could create extra work for clerks who must process the automatic expunctions, but they still supported the measure.

From Washington Times

More About Expunction

What does expunction mean?

Expunction is the act or process of expunging something—erasing, deleting, crossing out, or destroying it.

Expunction is especially used in the context of law, in which it refers to the removal of an arrest or conviction from a person’s public criminal record.

Expunction can also be called expungement.

Example: Many criminal justice reform advocates support the law, which would allow for the expunction of some misdemeanors from criminal records.

Where does expunction come from?

The first records of the word expunction come from right around 1600. It ultimately derives from the Latin verb expungere, which means “to blot out” or “to erase.” The word expungere is a combination of ex-, meaning “out,” and pungere, “to prick.” It originally referred to how scribes marked a word in a manuscript for deletion.

The word expunction is strongly associated with the practice of removing an arrest or conviction from a person’s permanent record. In some jurisdictions, an arrest may be expunged from a person’s record if they are not convicted. In some cases, the expunction of a conviction from a person’s record can be done after a certain amount of time has passed after their sentence is completed. The expunction of such records means they will not be seen during employer background checks, for example (though a private record may still exist in law enforcement files). For people who have served their sentence, this gives them a better chance at overcoming some of the many obstacles that often prevent them from gaining employment, finding housing, and fully participating in other parts of life.

Expunction is most often used in the context of criminal records, but it can also be used generally. Still, it is often used in reference to the erasure or removal of negative things, such as expunction of events from history or the expunction of a bad experience from one’s memory.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to expunction?

• expunge (verb)

What are some synonyms for expunction?

• expungement
• erasure
• removal
• deletion
• elimination

What are some words that share a root or word element with expunction? 

• puncture

What are some words that often get used in discussing expunction?

• record 
• criminal
• crime
• arrest
• conviction
• offense
• court
• judge
• prosecutor
• sentence
• victim

How is expunction used in real life?

Expunction is most commonly used in the context of law and criminal records. It is usually used formally.

Residents who need FREE assistance expunging traffic charges & convictions in order to restore driving privileges now have a new program to help! Our #Durham Expunction & Restoration (DEAR) Program is opening its new office today & launching https://t.co/ldeaeFYP13. pic.twitter.com/tW6YJm20f5

— CityofDurhamNC (@CityofDurhamNC) March 13, 2019

Learn what can be removed from a criminal record. This free pamphlet explains the expunction and non-disclosure processes in Texas. Read it here: https://t.co/f1DwregiSC or obtain free copies by emailing [e-mail]! @TexYoungLawyers #TXlaw pic.twitter.com/fwK7oNzCWZ

— State Bar of Texas (@statebaroftexas) April 2, 2019

"I called them on the phone, and they told me basically the only way I could get the mugshot to come down was to pay a certain fine. Proof of expunction wasn't valid." https://t.co/XBq9clS3ee via @pewtrusts

— The Marshall Project (@MarshallProj) December 12, 2017

 

 

Try using expunction!

Is expunction used correctly in the following sentence?

The expunction of such events from the historical record deprives future generations of the truth about what really happened.