demise

[ dih-mahyz ]

/ dɪˈmaɪz /

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See synonyms for: demise / demised / demising on Thesaurus.com

noun

death or decease.

termination of existence or operation: the demise of the empire.

Law.

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

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

verb (used with object), de·mised, de·mis·ing.

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

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

verb (used without object), de·mised, de·mis·ing.

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

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of demise

1400–50; late Middle English dimis(s)e, demise<Old French demis (past participle of desmetre) <Latin dīmissum (past participle of dīmittere); see demit¹, dismiss

OTHER WORDS FROM demise

de·mis·a·bil·i·ty, nounde·mis·a·ble, adjectivenon·de·mise, nounun·de·mised, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use demise in a sentence

Yuri Gagarin and his fellow cosmonauts were devastated by their colleague’s sudden demise, the Soviet’s first cosmonaut fatality.
The Man Who Fell From Space|Sean Braswell|November 27, 2020|Ozy
Robert Schofield, a biophysicist at the University of Oregon in Eugene, isn’t convinced by the battle data, and wonders whether the armorless ants had other differences that may have led to their demise.
Mineral body armor helps some leaf-cutting ants win fights with bigger kin|Christie Wilcox|November 24, 2020|Science News
I was using another model until its recent, untimely demise.
Gift Guide: 7 perfect gifts for podcasters and streamers|Brian Heater|November 23, 2020|TechCrunch
It turns out that predictions about the demise of the office are likely overstated.
No, offices aren’t going away—but they won’t be the same|Jeff|October 27, 2020|Fortune

The demise of third-party cookies promises to accelerate the decline of third-party data, and brands will require more direct data solutions to ensure return on investment and maximize the impact of their advertising spend.
Why advertisers are leaning into digital publishing strategies|Piano|October 8, 2020|Digiday
Now arose a difficulty—whether the property of the late King demised to the King or to the Crown.
The Greville Memoirs|Charles C. F. Greville
It's going to be a great shock to some of them one of these days to wake up and find out they're demised!
Famous Modern Ghost Stories|Various
It was demised to her doubtless before her marriage, but it was not altered in relation to her after her marriage.
Shakespeare's Family|Mrs. C. C. Stopes
"No, he didn't; he demised," says Kelly, emerging from obscurity into the light of conversation once more.
Rossmoyne|Unknown
The Captain claimed he was as good as a buzzard at locating the newly demised.
The Killer|Stewart Edward White

British Dictionary definitions for demise

demise

/ (dɪˈmaɪz) /

noun

failure or terminationthe demise of one's hopes

a euphemistic or formal word for death

property law

a transfer of an estate by lease
the passing or transfer of an estate on the death of the owner

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

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

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

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

Derived forms of demise

demisable, adjective

Word Origin for demise

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

demise

Origin of demise

OTHER WORDS FROM demise

Words related to demise

How to use demise in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for demise

Derived forms of demise

Word Origin for demise