WordValeterminal
of an illness: leading to death, incurable
In more detail
1. (noun) a station where buses, trains, or planes arrive and depart
2. (noun) a computer screen and keyboard used to access information from a larger system
3. (adjective) relating to or causing death; fatal
4. (adjective) at or forming the end of something
Examples
- 1. We met at the airport terminal before boarding our flight.
- 2. She typed the password into the computer terminal.
- 3. The doctor said he had a terminal illness.
How to use terminal
Terminal as a noun refers to a transportation hub or computer interface. As an adjective, it describes something final or fatal, commonly used in medical contexts (terminal cancer) or physics (terminal velocity). The medical sense carries serious, clinical connotations and should be used respectfully.
Common phrases
- terminal illness
- terminal velocity
- bus terminal
- airport terminal
- computer terminal
- terminal stage
Synonyms
station · depot · hub · end point · final
Opposites
beginning · start · initial
Word family
terminally (adverb) · terminate (verb) · termination (noun)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse the adjective 'terminal' (meaning fatal or final) with 'extreme' or 'severe' when describing illness; not all serious illnesses are terminal, and the word implies an inevitable fatal outcome.
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