terminal
gb/tˈɚmɪnəl/ us/tˈɚmɪnəl/
A2
English
~ 3600
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
Passenger transport facility
A place where people get on or off planes, buses, or ships.
Usage pattern:
[someone] waits at the terminal
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'terminal' with 'terminus'; 'terminus' is less common in everyday English except in British railway contexts.
Synonyms
station (A general term for a place where passengers board or leave vehicles; not always used for airports.)
Antonyms
en route (Refers to being in transit rather than at the starting or ending point.)
Collocations
airport terminal
|bus terminal
|ferry terminal
|train terminal
Themes
travel
|transportation
|daily life
Examples
- We met at the airport terminal before our flight.
- The bus will depart from the main terminal downtown.
- She works at the ferry terminal checking tickets.
- Passengers should arrive at the terminal two hours before departure.
Learner examples
- The bus leaves from the terminal.
- We wait at the terminal for the plane.
- My friend meets me at the terminal.
- The ferry is at the terminal.
adjective
B2
property
2
Incurable medical condition
Used about an illness that will cause death and cannot be cured.
Usage pattern:
[someone] has a terminal [illness/disease]
Common mistake:
Some learners misuse 'terminal' to mean 'serious' for illnesses that are not fatal.
Synonyms
incurable (General term for a disease that cannot be cured; not necessarily fatal in a short time.)
Antonyms
treatable (Describes a disease that can be managed or cured.)
Collocations
terminal illness
|terminal cancer
|terminal patient
Themes
health
|medicine
Examples
- He was diagnosed with a terminal illness last year.
- The charity supports people with terminal cancer.
- Her condition is terminal, and treatment can only ease her symptoms.
Learner examples
- He has a terminal illness.
- She is sick with a terminal disease.
- The man has terminal cancer.
Noun
technical
B1
entity
3
Computer input/output device
A device with a screen and keyboard used to control or talk to a computer.
Synonyms
console (Similar in computing contexts, but can also refer specifically to control panels.)
Antonyms
standalone computer (A computer that operates independently without relying on a connected terminal.)
Collocations
computer terminal
|ATM terminal
|point-of-sale terminal
Themes
technology
|computing
Examples
- The engineer logged into the server using a terminal.
- An ATM is a type of banking terminal.
- We installed new point-of-sale terminals in all stores.
Learner examples
- I use a terminal to enter data.
- The bank has many ATM terminals.
- The store uses a payment terminal.
adjective
B2
property
4
At the end point
Happening at the end of something.
Usage pattern:
a terminal [phase/stage/point]
Synonyms
final (General term for last in a sequence; not always used in technical contexts.)
Antonyms
initial (Refers to the beginning rather than the end.)
Collocations
terminal stage
|terminal point
Themes
time
Examples
- The project is in its terminal phase.
- The insect dies after reaching the terminal stage of its life cycle.
- They reached the terminal point of their journey.
Learner examples
- This is the terminal stage of the game.
- We are in the terminal phase of work.
- They came to the terminal point.
Grammar
Dictionary form
terminal
IPA
GB/tˈɚmɪnəl/
US/tˈɚmɪnəl/
Syllables & stress
ter - min - al (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (ter)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: terminal
Noun
- Base: terminal
- Plural: terminals
Word family
Forms
terminals
noun
Core family
terminate
verb B2
termination
noun B2
Related words
Negative and opposite forms
interminable
adjective C1
Expressions
bus terminal
1/bˈʌs tˈɚmɪnəl/
fixed phrase
Building for bus passengers
A place where buses start or end their trips and people get on or off.
Examples
- The bus leaves from the main bus terminal downtown.
- We waited inside the bus terminal until our coach arrived.
ferry terminal
1/fˈɛɹi tˈɚmɪnəl/
fixed phrase
Building for ferry passengers
A place where people get on or off ferries or ships.
Examples
- We arrived early at the ferry terminal to check in our car.
- The ferry terminal is located near the old harbor.
airport terminal
1/ˈɛɹpˌɔɹt tˈɚmɪnəl/
fixed phrase
Main building for passengers
The main building in an airport where passengers check in, wait, and board planes.
Examples
- We met inside the airport terminal before our flight.
- We met at the airport terminal before boarding.
- The airport terminal was crowded with travelers.
- The new airport terminal has more shops and restaurants.
terminal illness
1/tˈɚmɪnəl ˈɪlnəs/
fixed phrase
Illness causing eventual death
An illness that will cause death and cannot be cured.
Examples
- The patient was diagnosed with a terminal illness.
- He was diagnosed with a terminal illness last year.
- She dedicated her last months to raising awareness about her terminal illness.
- Hospices provide care for people with terminal illnesses.