demise

[dih-mahyz]

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.

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

/ 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 )

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

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of demise¹

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”; dismiss

Word History and Origins

Origin of demise¹

C16: from Old French, feminine of demis dismissed, from demettre to send away, from Latin dīmittere; see _dismiss

Example Sentences

Teller agrees but sees his demise a bit … differently.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

And it included dicta — a nonbinding observation that can be cited as a “persuasive authority” in future litigation — that planted the seeds for preclearance’s demise.

Read more on Salon

Seeing that Hamas’s defeat was inevitable, its patrons agreed to the deal to have at least some control over its demise.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The group’s demise reflects broad cultural changes, including a fractured media environment and consumers’ shift to streaming and social media apps such as TikTok for entertainment.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Joining the gold rally might seem like an expensive proposition, but it remains the key hedge against the dollar’s demise.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

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