Words / C1

di-MYZ/dɪˈmaɪz/

Demise is the end of something that used to exist, especially an organisation or practice: the demise of the local paper (formal). Death is for people in ordinary English; demise for a person is old-fashioned or legal. Collapse and decline are cousins. Do not use demise for a cancelled picnic.

Meaning

The end of something that used to exist, especially an organisation or practice (formal).

Examples

• “Online news hastened the demise of the local paper.”
• “Streaming hastened the demise of the high-street video shop.”
• “Obituaries still say “the demise of” a public figure; news writing usually says died.”

Good to know

The end of something (formal, often institutions). People: death (ordinary). Cousin: decline. Not a cancelled outing.

Near in meaning

end

New