Riddance

//ˈɹɪd(ə)n(t)s// noun

noun ·Moderate ·College level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    An act of ridding, clearance, or removal; elimination. countable, uncountable

    "A gentle riddance. Draw the curtains, go. Let all of his complexion choose me so."

  2. 2
    the act of forcing out someone or something wordnet
  3. 3
    Deliverance, release, setting free; a relief involving getting rid of something. countable, uncountable
  4. 4
    the act of removing or getting rid of something wordnet
  5. 5
    The earth thrown up by a burrowing animal. countable, uncountable

Synonyms

All synonyms
ejectioneliminationabandonmentabjurationbreakbreakout

Example

More examples

"We must build toward the time when a major depression cannot occur again; and if this means sacrificing the easy profits of inflationist booms, then let them go; and good riddance."

Etymology

Apparently an alteration of earlier Middle English riddeings, ryddyngs, reddyngs (“clearings, clearances”), plural of riddyng, riddynge, rudyng (“clearing away, removal”), partially continuing Old English hryding (“a clearing, cleared land”), by surface analysis, rid + -ance.

Related phrases

good riddancegood riddance to bad rubbish

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.