closure
Closure (noun) means the permanent or temporary shutting of a place or operation. Example: “The factory closure put two hundred people out of work.”
How to use closure
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething coming to a definite end — a shop shutting down, a case being resolved, or the emotional sense of moving on.
Word forms
closured past tense, closures plural, closures singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The factory _____ put two hundred people out of work.
Etymology
From Old French closure, going back to Latin claudere, "to close" — a doublet of "clause" and "cloture."
Related words
Rhymes for closure
See all rhymes for closure →Frequently asked questions
What does “closure” mean?
The word “closure” means the permanent or temporary shutting of a place or operation. In plain terms, something coming to a definite end — a shop shutting down, a case being resolved, or the emotional sense of moving on.
How do you pronounce “closure”?
“Closure” is pronounced KLOH-zhuh (/ˈkloʊ.ʒɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “closure” in a sentence?
Here is “closure” used in a sentence: “The factory closure put two hundred people out of work.”
What part of speech is “closure”?
“Closure” is a noun.
Where does the word “closure” come from?
The word “closure” comes from Latin. From Old French closure, going back to Latin claudere, "to close" — a doublet of "clause" and "cloture.".
Is “closure” a common word?
“Closure” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “closure” have?
“Closure” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the permanent or temporary shutting of a place or operation.
What is the difference between "closure" and "closing"?
"Closing" usually describes the act or process of shutting something ("the closing of the shop"), while "closure" names the resulting state or a permanent shutdown ("the factory's closure"). "Closure" also carries an emotional sense that "closing" does not.
What prepositions are used with "closure"?
Common patterns are "closure of" for shutting something down ("the closure of the road") and getting "closure on" something for the emotional sense ("closure on the relationship").
Is "closure" countable or uncountable?
It depends on the sense. As a shutdown it is countable ("a series of closures"), while in the emotional sense it is uncountable ("she needed closure").