Terminal — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun /ˈtər-mə-nᵊl/ ter·mi·nal

Meaning & Definition of Terminal

Terminal (adjective)

  1. leading ultimately to death, fatal
  2. approaching or close to death, being in the final stages of a fatal disease
  3. of or relating to patients with a terminal illness

Terminal (noun)

  1. either end of a carrier line having facilities for the handling of freight and passengers
  2. a freight or passenger station that is central to a considerable area or serves as a junction at any point with other lines
  3. a town or city at the end of a carrier line, terminus

Terminal (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. following all others of the same kind in order or time

    "took me to the terminal point of that bus route"

    similar: bottommost, closing, concluding, final, hindmost, lag, last, latest, latter, rearmost, terminating, ultimate
    related: consequent, ensuing, eventual, following, succeeding, conclusive, crowning, decisive, definitive, farthermost, farthest, furthermost, furthest, remotest, lowermost, lowest, nethermost, endmost, extreme, outermost, outmost, utmost, penultimate
    opposite: beginning, earliest, first, foremost, headmost, inaugural, initial, leadoff, maiden, opening, original, pioneer, primary, starting
    near: eminent, premier, superior

  2. likely to cause or capable of causing death

    "a form of cancer that is usually terminal"

    similar: baleful, deadly, deathly, fatal, fell, killer, lethal, mortal, murderous, pestilent, vital
    related: baneful, deleterious, destructive, harmful, injurious, noxious, pernicious, truculent, infectious, infective, pestilential, poisonous, sublethal, toxic, virulent, dangerous, grave, grievous, hazardous, jeopardizing, menacing, parlous, perilous, risky, serious, threatening, ugly, unhealthy, unsound, bloody, internecine, sanguinary, sanguine
    opposite: healthful, healthy, nonfatal, nonlethal, wholesome
    near: beneficial, restorative, salubrious, salutary, alleviative, corrective, curative, remedial, tonic, advantageous, useful, nonpoisonous, nontoxic, safe

Terminal (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in depot

    similar: depot, station, stop, way station, layover, stopover, outstation

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Terminal

The most common words with a similar meaning to Terminal:

bottommost, closing, concluding, final, hindmost, lag, last, latest, latter, rearmost, terminating, ultimate, baleful, deadly, deathly, fatal, fell, killer, lethal, mortal, murderous, pestilent, vital, depot, station, stop, way station, layover, stopover, outstation

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Terminal

Words with the opposite meaning of Terminal:

beginning, earliest, first, foremost, headmost, inaugural, initial, leadoff, maiden, opening, original, pioneer, primary, starting, healthful, healthy, nonfatal, nonlethal, wholesome

Related Words for Terminal

consequent, ensuing, eventual, following, succeeding, conclusive, crowning, decisive, definitive, farthermost, farthest, furthermost, furthest, remotest, lowermost, lowest, nethermost, endmost, extreme, outermost, outmost, utmost, penultimate, baneful, deleterious, destructive, harmful, injurious, noxious, pernicious

Near Antonyms of Terminal

eminent, premier, superior, beneficial, restorative, salubrious, salutary, alleviative, corrective, curative, remedial, tonic, advantageous, useful, nonpoisonous, nontoxic, safe

Word Forms of Terminal

Derived words: terminally (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Terminal

Latin terminalis, from terminus

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Terminal

Words & Phrases Containing Terminal

terminal leave, terminal side, in terminal decline, interterminal

Frequently Asked Questions about Terminal

What does "Terminal" mean?

"Terminal" means leading ultimately to death, fatal. As an an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: leading ultimately to death, fatal. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Terminal"?

Other words for "Terminal" include bottommost, closing, concluding, final, hindmost, lag, last and latest. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Terminal" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Terminal"?

There are 86 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Terminal". Common alternatives include bottommost, closing, concluding, final, hindmost, lag, last, latest, latter and rearmost.

What is the opposite of "Terminal"?

Antonyms of "Terminal" include beginning, earliest, first, foremost, headmost, inaugural, initial and leadoff. Near antonyms include eminent, premier, superior and beneficial.

How do you use "Terminal" in a sentence?

Examples of "Terminal" in a sentence: "took me to the terminal point of that bus route"; "a form of cancer that is usually terminal".

Is "Terminal" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Terminal" can be used as an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Terminal" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Terminal" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Terminal"?

"Terminal" is pronounced /ˈtər-mə-nᵊl/ and divided into syllables as ter·mi·nal.