Word
terminus
Phoneticster·mi·nus, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈtɝmɪnəs/
UK/tˈɜːmɪnəs/
Countable noun
Definition
n. the final stop at the end of a bus or train line. It is the place where the journey finishes and the vehicle turns around.
n. the final station or stop at the end of a transportation route. Often used in technical or formal contexts regarding logistics and urban planning.
Examples
“The bus reaches its terminus at the edge of the city.”
“Passengers must exit the train here because this station is the terminus for the northern line.”
“The grand central station serves as the primary terminus for all regional rail traffic, acting as a vital hub for thousands of daily commuters.”
Examples
simple
“The bus reaches its terminus at the edge of the city.”
contextual
“Passengers must exit the train here because this station is the terminus for the northern line.”
complex
“The grand central station serves as the primary terminus for all regional rail traffic, acting as a vital hub for thousands of daily commuters.”
Usage
The plural form can be either 'termini' (more formal/Latinate) or 'terminuses' (standard English).
Etymology
Learned borrowing from Latin terminus (“a boundary or border, a limit or point”). Doublet of terminus and term.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/terminus