perdition

American  

[per-dish-uhn] / pərˈdɪʃ ən /

noun

1. a state of final spiritual ruin; loss of the soul; damnation.

2. the future state of the wicked.

3. hell.

4. utter destruction or ruin.

5. Obsolete. loss.

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perdition British  

/ pəˈdɪʃən /

noun

1. Christianity

   1. final and irrevocable spiritual ruin

   2. this state as one that the wicked are said to be destined to endure for ever

2. another word for hell

3. archaic utter disaster, ruin, or destruction

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Etymology

Origin of perdition

First recorded in 1300–50; from Latin perditiōn-, stem of perditiō “destruction,” from perdit(us) “lost” (past participle of perdere “to do in, ruin, lose,” from per- per- + -dere, combining form of dare “to give”) + -iō -ion; replacing Middle English perdiciun, from Old French, from Latin, as above

Example Sentences

If so, which people are allowed in and which are banished to perdition, if not sentenced to be annihilated?

From Salon • Jul. 29, 2023

This perdition has only grown more baroque and hellish during the post-COVID travel rebound, which has created dehumanizing rental car shortages and skyrocketing prices across the country.

From Slate • Jul. 28, 2023

It’s Torquemada, he’s been told, Who’s here to damn him to perdition.

From Washington Post • Jul. 21, 2022

But let us not so quickly throw stones at these folks on the road to perdition.

From New York Times • Jan. 29, 2018

The only places I’d seen within a stone’s throw from Shady’s place were the cemetery and that broken-down shack of a house with perdition written on the gate.

From "Moon Over Manifest" by Clare Vanderpool