Terminated

Terminated is the past participle of terminate and functions as an adjective describing something that has come to an end or stoppage. The word originates from Latin terminatus, from terminus meaning end or boundary, and entered English via French and later usage in law and science.

In general usage, terminated denotes that a process, relationship, agreement, or state has been brought to a close. The sense is neutral and can reflect a planned conclusion or an involuntary cessation, depending on context.

In employment and labor law, termination refers to the ending of an employee’s relationship with an employer. Termination can be voluntary (resignation, retirement) or involuntary (dismissal, layoff). Legal frameworks often specify notice requirements, severance entitlements, and protections against unlawful termination, which vary by jurisdiction and contract terms.

In contracts and business arrangements, termination describes the end of an agreement, which can occur upon fulfillment of obligations, mutual consent, breach by one party, or the occurrence of a triggering event. Many contracts include termination clauses that define notice procedures, remedies, and any transitional arrangements.

In computing, termination describes the end of a program, process, or connection. Termination may be graceful, with proper shutdown and resource release, or forced, such as through a termination signal or an error condition. Termination status is often indicated by exit codes or status indicators.

In biology and medicine, termination of pregnancy refers to procedures that end a pregnancy, typically for medical, ethical, or personal reasons. The term is used in clinical and legal contexts, with policies and terminology varying by jurisdiction.

In mathematics and formal systems, a terminating process or sequence concludes after a finite number of steps, as opposed to non-terminating, which continues indefinitely. See also terminate and termination for related terms.