deletion

noun

de·​le·​tion di-ˈlē-shən How to pronounce deletion (audio)
dē-
Synonyms of deletionnext
1
: the act of deleting
2
a
: something deleted
b(1)
: the absence of a section of genetic material from a gene or chromosome
(2)
: the mutational process that results in a deletion

Synonyms of deletion

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Examples of deletion in a Sentence

one of the deletions from the final cut of the movie turned out to be my one line of dialogue
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Voters should be very wary of the myriad changes and deletions resulting from these charter proposals. — Joseph Landers, Baltimore Sun, 6 Aug. 2026 Clear deletion policies will become important for employees and visitors who appear on camera. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 6 Aug. 2026 Because of the randomness of some of these things and complexities like deletions, many of the individual inferences about history will be wrong. — ArsTechnica, 31 July 2026 Finally, Flock’s vehicle data is stored for a default of 30 days before deletion. — Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 26 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for deletion

Word History

Etymology

Latin deletion-, deletio destruction, from delēre

First Known Use

1590, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of deletion was in 1590

Rhymes for deletion

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Browse Nearby Words

delethalize
deletion
deleveling
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Cite this Entry

“Deletion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deletion. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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Medical Definition

deletion

noun
de·​le·​tion di-ˈlē-shən How to pronounce deletion (audio)
1
: the absence of a section of genetic material from a gene or chromosome
2
: the mutational process that results in a deletion

More from Merriam-Webster on deletion

Nglish: Translation of deletion for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about deletion

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