Pronunciation: [ɛkspˈʌnd͡ʒ] (IPA) 
The word "expunge" is spelled with the phonemes /ɪkˈspʌndʒ/. The first syllable is pronounced with a short "i" followed by a "k" sound. The second syllable has a stressed "uh" sound and is followed by the "n" and "j" sounds. The final syllable has a soft "j" sound followed by a voiced "zh" sound. The spelling of "expunge" can be quite confusing, but mastering its correct pronunciation and spelling can help improve our language skills.
The verb "expunge" refers to the act of removing, erasing, or deleting something completely, especially from a record, document, or memory. It involves the elimination and annulment of any trace or existence of the subject matter. When an item is expunged, it is effectively wiped out and no longer has any influence, relevance, or validity.
In a legal context, to expunge means to officially strike off or obliterate a conviction or arrest record. This happens mostly in cases where an individual has been proven innocent, or the offense is considered minor or insignificant. Expungement grants the petitioner the right to treat the erased record as if it never existed, thereby protecting their reputation and allowing them a fresh start.
Beyond legal proceedings, expunge can also be used more broadly to describe the removal of any unwanted or undesirable element. For instance, in the realm of editing or revising written content, it involves the deletion or excision of certain text or sections that are deemed unnecessary, redundant, or inappropriate. Socially or psychologically, to expunge might refer to the process of eliminating a traumatic or distressing memory or emotion from one's mind, denoting an active effort to erase or suppress it entirely.
Overall, "expunge" denotes an action of complete elimination, erasure, or deletion, whether physically, legally, or metaphorically, leaving no trace or evidence behind.
To blot or wipe out; to efface; to obliterate.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "expunge" originated from the Latin word "expungere", which is a combination of the prefix "ex" meaning "out" or "away" and the verb "pungere" meaning "to prick" or "to sting". In Latin, "expungere" was used in the legal context to describe the act of striking a mark or erasing something from a document by pricking or puncturing it. Over time, the word evolved in English and gained the meaning of removing or erasing something completely, especially from a written record or document.
