PoliticsJuly 10, 2026

expungement

/ɪkˈspʌndʒmənt/

Definition

The legal process of permanently erasing or sealing a criminal record so that it is no longer accessible to the general public.

Etymology

Derived from the Latin 'expungere,' meaning 'to mark for deletion' by placing dots or points over a word. It entered English in the 17th century through the sense of striking something out of a record.

In the news

The article mentions 'automatic expungement' in the context of new Missouri legislation, contrasting with the active federal enforcement operation described in the main report.

Kansas City food warehouse workers detained after immigration operation in Northeast

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KCUR

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