demise

American  

[dih-mahyz] / dɪˈmaɪz /

noun

1. death or decease.

2. termination of existence or operation.

   the demise of the empire.

3. Law.

   1. a death or decease occasioning the transfer of an estate.

   2. a conveyance or transfer of an estate.

4. Government. transfer of sovereignty, as by the death or deposition of the sovereign.

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verb (used with object)

demised, demising

1. Law. to transfer (an estate or the like) for a limited time; lease.

2. Government. to transfer (sovereignty), as by the death or abdication of the sovereign.

verb (used without object)

demised, demising

1. Law. to pass by bequest, inheritance, or succession.

demise British  

/ dɪˈmaɪz /

noun

1. failure or termination

   the demise of one's hopes

2. a euphemistic or formal word for death

3. property law

   1. a transfer of an estate by lease

   2. the passing or transfer of an estate on the death of the owner

4. the immediate transfer of sovereignty to a successor upon the death, abdication, etc, of a ruler (esp in the phrase demise of the crown )

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verb

1. to transfer or be transferred by inheritance, will, or succession

2. (tr) property law to transfer (an estate, etc) for a limited period; lease

3. (tr) to transfer (sovereignty, a title, etc) by or as if by the death, deposition, etc, of a ruler

Other Word Forms

• demisability
  noun
• demisable
  adjective
• nondemise
  noun
• undemised
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of demise

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English demise, dimis(s)e, from Old French demis, past participle of desmetre, from Latin dīmittere “to send away, dismiss”; see dismiss

Explanation

Resort to the noun demise when you describe the end, termination, or death of something or someone. Demise is mostly used in medical or legal language, or when someone wants to sound either formal or euphemistic. The word entered English from French demettre which means "to dismiss," from the Latin word mittere, meaning "let go, send." And you might think, after reading this quote from E. Phillips Oppenheim, that demise sounds somewhat old-fashioned: "That my demise would have been a relief to you I can, of course, easily believe, but the means — they surely were not worthy of your ingenuity."

Example Sentences

Appeared in the December 12, 2025, print edition as 'Don’t Listen to the Reports of Ireland’s Demise'.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 11, 2025

The Royal Air Force flight crew who transported the Queen's coffin from Scotland to London, other coffin bearers, and senior government officials are also included in the Demise Honours list.

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2023

Jeff Pearlman, who researched Walker for his book Football For a Buck: The Crazy Rise and Crazier Demise of the USFL, found that Walker wasn’t close to many people, including his teammates.

From Slate • Nov. 6, 2022

As politicians, they might also enjoy the recently published book “News Hole: The Demise of Local Journalism and Political Engagement.”

From Seattle Times • Jan. 28, 2022

"My name," the little man said, "is," he paused and smiled cryptically, "Demise."

From Death Makes A Mistake by Costello, P.F.

Related Words

• collapse
• departure
• dissolution
• downfall
• extinction
• failure
• passing
• termination