expunged

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "expunged" is an acceptable and formal word in written English.
It is most commonly used to describe the erasing of something, such as a record of an event or a name from a list. For example: "The police expunged the suspect's criminal record after he was found to be innocent."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Records of the entire saga, including the court order over visitation rights and the prosecution of McAleer, have been expunged from Maryland's publicly accessible court and police files.

The Guardian

Reference to her has been expunged from all the ceremonies organised by Saint-Exupéry supporters, including the three days of celebrations in Lyon.

The Guardian - Books

The former Icac commissioner David Ipp described the licences as "so tainted by corruption that [they] should be expunged or cancelled".

The Guardian

Men convicted under the historic laws – which included attempted buggery, buggery on a male person and indecent assault on a male person – can apply to have their convictions expunged.

The Guardian

The NSW independent MP Alex Greenwich led the charge to have convictions expunged in that state.

The Guardian

But worst of all was amnesia.The crime has not yet been expunged, the hour of truth has not yet struck.

The Economist

NEAR the centre of the Lanarkshire town of Airdrie there is a huge mural glorifying the victory of King William III over James II at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690, which expunged the Catholic monarchy from Britain.

The Economist

"We have intellectual cousins in unexpected places," Mr Russell writes.He wants, in particular, to "give a voice" to the sects that are most vulnerable to extinction, either in the sense that their belief systems are in danger of fading out or that those who hold them may be physically expunged.

The Economist

His Tour de France victories will be expunged but not re-awarded, as many of the runners-up are tainted by doping too.

The Economist

These included laws to downgrade the offence of false accounting, to make it harder to use evidence from abroad, to provide for cases to be moved to a different court if there is any suspicion of judicial bias, and to shorten the statute of limitations after which offences are automatically expunged.

The Economist

Yet the files contain much private information, accurate or not, on things like medical conditions or sexual indiscretions.So a more likely answer will be to open the files to public scrutiny with non-political material expunged.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "expunged", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being removed and from where. This is commonly used in legal, historical, or official settings.

Common error

Avoid using "expunged" in informal contexts where a simpler term like "deleted" or "removed" would suffice. It carries a formal and often legal connotation.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "expunged" is as a verb, specifically the past participle or past tense of "expunge". It is used to indicate that something has been officially removed or erased, often from a record or list. Ludwig AI confirms its appropriate use in formal contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

77%

Encyclopedias

13%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Science

3%

Wiki

1%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "expunged" is a verb form predominantly used in formal contexts to denote the official removal or erasure of something, often from legal or historical records. Ludwig AI indicates it's a grammatically correct term, used frequently in "News & Media" and encyclopedias. When writing, it's crucial to consider the formality of the situation and use simpler alternatives like "deleted" or "removed" in informal settings. Common synonyms include "erased", "removed", and "obliterated", each carrying slightly different nuances. Understanding these subtleties will enhance your writing precision and clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

erased

Focuses on the act of removing something completely, like writing or data.

removed

A more general term for taking something away, applicable in various contexts.

deleted

Specifically refers to removing digital data or information.

obliterated

Implies a complete destruction or removal, leaving no trace.

cancelled

Refers to invalidating or nullifying something, like an order or event.

revoked

Means to officially take back or withdraw something, like a license or permission.

struck down

Often used in a legal context to describe a law or ruling being invalidated.

purged

Implies a systematic removal of undesirable elements.

excised

Suggests cutting something out, often used in a surgical or editorial context.

wiped out

Emphasizes the complete destruction or elimination of something.

FAQs

How is "expunged" typically used in a sentence?

"Expunged" is used to describe the act of officially removing or erasing something, especially from a record. For instance, "The conviction was "expunged" from his criminal record".

What are some synonyms for "expunged"?

Alternatives to "expunged" include "erased", "removed", "deleted", or "obliterated", depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "expunged" instead of "deleted"?

"Expunged" is more appropriate in formal or legal contexts when something is officially removed from a record. "Deleted" is a more general term for removing something, particularly in digital contexts.

What is the difference between "expunged" and "revoked"?

"Expunged" means to erase or remove completely, while "revoked" means to officially take back or withdraw something, such as a license or privilege. Therefore, although both mean to take something away, the context and purpose is what makes them different.