terminus

American  

[tur-muh-nuhs] / ˈtɜr mə nəs /

noun

plural

termini, terminuses

1. the end or extremity of anything.

2. either end of a railroad line.

3. British. the station or the town at the end of a railway or bus route.

4. the point toward which anything tends; goal or end.

5. a boundary or limit.

6. a boundary post or stone.

7. (initial capital letter) the ancient Roman god of boundaries and landmarks.

8. term.

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terminus ¹ British  

/ ˈtɜːmɪnəs /

noun

1. the last or final part or point

2. either end of a railway, bus route, etc, or a station or town at such a point

3. a goal aimed for

4. a boundary or boundary marker

5. architect another name for term

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Terminus ² British  

/ ˈtɜːmɪnəs /

noun

1. the Roman god of boundaries

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Etymology

Origin of terminus

1545–55; < Latin: boundary, limit, end

Example Sentences

For the surface versions, the peptide was attached at either the N terminus or the C terminus, a subtle difference that can influence how immune cells recognize and process it.

From Science Daily • Feb. 18, 2026

The long gold bull market appeared like it could be near its terminus.

From Barron's • Dec. 16, 2025

It’s a somewhat arbitrary terminus given the number of non-American artists included here, and the irrelevance of our commercial television to their work.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 18, 2025

But is our little fiesta headed towards another terminus?

From Salon • Oct. 4, 2025

By retiring when he did, he avoided that fate, which would have established a precedent that smacked of monarchical longevity by permitting biology to set the terminus of his tenure.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis