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The Curious Bag
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In its various contexts, legal, journalistic and otherwise, expunge relates to striking out, omitting or removing.
Journalism
In journalistic terms, to expunge is to delete or strike information from a piece of writing. A journalist or editor might expunge repetitions, misstated information or information a subject requests to be removed.
Legal
As a judiciary term, to expunge is to officially remove information from a case record or other legal record. According to the National Council of State Legislatures' glossary, this expungement might occur "in situations where objectionable, inflammatory or incorrect matter" was originally recorded in the record.
Other Forms
The noun form of expunge is expunger (one who expunges), expunction or expungement (the legal act of expunging or being expunged).
History
Expunge emerged into common usage circa 1600 from the Latin word expungere, which means to "mark (a name on a list) for deletion," according to the Online Etymology Dictionary.
Famous Ties
The famous American poet, essayist and lecturer Ralph Waldo Emerson once said: "Every burned book or house enlightens the world; every suppressed or expunged word reverberates through the earth from side to side."
Source:
"Expunge," National Council of State Legislatures
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