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Definition of riddance

riddance

/ˈrɪd.əns/
rid · dance
Plural:riddances
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riddance Lexical Profile

riddance Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The action of clearing away or getting rid of something unwanted or unpleasant; the state of being freed from an annoyance or burden.

Example

"After months of dealing with the malfunctioning printer, the office staff said good riddance when it was finally replaced."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for riddance
Antonyms
View all antonyms for riddance

Word Nuance & Usage

In contemporary English, "riddance" is almost exclusively encountered in the fixed idiomatic expression "good riddance" (or "good riddance to bad rubbish"), used to express relief that an unwanted person or thing has gone.

• Rhymes for riddance

• Nearby Words

ricotta
rid
ridable
riddance
ridder
riddle
riddler

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the early 16th century from the verb "rid" (from Old Norse "ryðja", meaning to clear land of trees or rubbish) combined with the Anglo-French suffix "-ance".

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Riddance. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/riddance
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