closure

noun

clo·​sure ˈklō-zhər How to pronounce closure (audio)
1
: an act of closing : the condition of being closed
closure of the eyelids
business closures
the closure of the factory
2
: an often comforting or satisfying sense of finality
victims needing closure
also : something (such as a satisfying ending) that provides such a sense
3
: something that closes
pocket with zipper closure
child-resistant closures
4
[translation of French clôture] : cloture
5
: the property that a number system or a set has when it is mathematically closed under an operation
6
: a set that consists of a given set together with all the limit points of that set
7
archaic : means of enclosing : enclosure

Examples of closure in a Sentence

The government forced the closure of the factory. I need to talk to him and get some closure on this issue. Going to the memorial service for his late wife made it possible for him to achieve closure. We all felt a sense of closure after our sister's murderer was sent to jail. trying to bring closure to the victim's family
Recent Examples on the Web The Associated Press reported that a second offense of violating closures and use limits was dismissed. Those who wander into the Yellowstone thermal areas are throwing themselves into hot water, in both the legal and literal sense. Ethan Millman, Rolling Stone, 15 Mar. 2024 The wholesale bakery's announcement of the closure came via a post on the company’s official Facebook page to its 17,000+ followers on March 13. Journal Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2024 Per a plea deal, a separate charge of violating closures and use limits was dropped. EW.com, 14 Mar. 2024 The outcomes are similarly adversely affected for stroke and heart attack with services closures. Varun Kapur, The Mercury News, 13 Mar. 2024 But the 61-year-old retailer has managed to avoid store closures — and unlike some of its competitors, Kohl’s has been opening more physical locations. Francisco Velasquez, Quartz, 12 Mar. 2024 Other coal and oil plants in the region have switched energy sources or set a date for their eventual closure. Troy Aidan Sambajon, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Mar. 2024 McCarthy said the guilty verdict brought closure to Fierro’s family. Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2024 The city of Huntington Beach has not announced any beach closures, but mariners have received a safety alert to stay out of the area. Jireh Deng, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'closure.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin clausura, from clausus, past participle of claudere to close — more at close

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 7

Time Traveler
The first known use of closure was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near closure

Cite this Entry

“Closure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/closure. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

closure

noun
clo·​sure ˈklō-zhər How to pronounce closure (audio)
1
a
: an act of closing
b
: the condition of being closed
2
: something that closes
a pocket with zipper closure
3
: the property of being closed under a mathematical operation
the set of whole numbers does not have closure under division

Medical Definition

closure

noun
clo·​sure ˈklō-zhər How to pronounce closure (audio)
1
a
: an act of closing up or condition of being closed up
closure of the eyelids
early closure of fontanels and suturesW. A. D. Anderson
b
: a drawing together of edges or parts to form a united integument
wound closure by suture immediately after laceration
2
: a cap, lid, or stopper for sealing a container (as a serum vial)
3
: the perception of incomplete figures or situations as though complete by ignoring the missing parts or by compensating for them by projection based on past experience
4
: an often comforting or satisfying sense of finality
therapy brought closure to the victim's family

More from Merriam-Webster on closure

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