English Reference
noun

expiration

n.
US /ˌɛkspɝˈeɪʃən/ UK /ɛkspəɹˈeɪʃən/ ex·pi·ra·tion UK spelling expiration's, expiration's

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    the end of a period of time when something, like a document or a deal, can be used.

    the ending of a fixed period of time for which a contract, license, or agreement is valid.

    Simple

    Check the expiration date on your passport before you book the flight.

    In context

    The legal team was tasked with reviewing all service agreements prior to their expiration to ensure seamless continuity of operations.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate Cooking

    the date after which food or medicine is no longer safe or good to use.

    the date after which a perishable product is no longer fit for consumption or sale.

    Simple

    I had to throw the milk away because it was past its expiration.

    In context

    Strict regulations require pharmaceutical companies to conduct stability testing to determine the precise expiration of each batch produced.

    expiry datebest before date
  3. 03 C1 Advanced Technical Medicine

    the act of breathing air out of your lungs.

    the act or process of releasing air from the lungs through the nose or mouth.

    Simple

    The doctor asked the patient to practice slow expiration to help them relax.

    In context

    The respiratory therapist monitored the patient's forced expiration volume to assess the extent of the airway obstruction.

    Usage

    In medical contexts, it is the opposite of 'inspiration'.

    exhalation
  4. 04 C2 Proficiency FormalLiterary

    a very formal or polite way to talk about someone dying.

    a formal or euphemistic term for the end of a life.

    Simple

    The old king's expiration was mourned by the entire country for a month.

    In context

    The historical records provide a detailed account of the philosopher's quiet expiration in his library, surrounded by his unfinished manuscripts.

The recall specifically covers 15ml bottles carrying lot code 2552A and an expiration date of 30 September 2027.

The Guardian· 22 Aug 2026

Most of the shows I consumed were well past their expiration date, but that didn’t matter.

JSTOR Daily· 8 Jul 2026

From Middle English expiracioun, exspiracioun (“vapor, breath”), from Latin expīrātiōnem, exspīrātiōnem, accusative singular of expīrātiō, exspīrātiō. By surface analysis, expire + -ation.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin expīrātiōnem
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated