closure

noun

clo·​sure ˈklō-zhər 

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

Synonyms

• arrest
• arrestment
• cease
• cessation
• check
• close
• closedown
• conclusion
• cutoff
• discontinuance
• discontinuation
• end
• ending
• expiration
• finish
• halt
• lapse
• offset
• shutdown
• shutoff
• stay
• stop
• stoppage
• surcease
• termination

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

This will allow for proper healing and closure of the wound. —Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 25 Jan. 2025

Joe Raedle | Getty Images News | Getty Images Store closures in the U.S. are spiking. —Sara Salinas, CNBC, 24 Jan. 2025

Other closures include southbound State Route 143 near Sky Harbor International Airport and lane restrictions along eastbound Loop 101. —Lauren De Young, The Arizona Republic, 24 Jan. 2025

China's space authorities take some safety measures ahead of each launch, including calculating and evacuating closure areas, also known as drop zones. —Andrew Jones, Space.com, 24 Jan. 2025

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

Kids Definition

closure

noun

clo·​sure ˈklō-zhər 

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 

1

a

: an act of closing up or condition of being closed up

closure of the eyelids

early closure of fontanels and sutures

—W. 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