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.”

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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.

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

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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.

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

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When To Use

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.