Word
expiration
Phoneticsex·pi·ra·tion, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌɛkspɝˈeɪʃən/
UK/ɛkspəɹˈeɪʃən/
Definitions
01end of validity
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the end of a period of time when something, like a document or a deal, can be used.
n. the ending of a fixed period of time for which a contract, license, or agreement is valid.
“Check the expiration date on your passport before you book the flight.”
“The legal team was tasked with reviewing all service agreements prior to their expiration to ensure seamless continuity of operations.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02food safety
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Cooking
n. the date after which food or medicine is no longer safe or good to use.
n. the date after which a perishable product is no longer fit for consumption or sale.
“I had to throw the milk away because it was past its expiration.”
“Strict regulations require pharmaceutical companies to conduct stability testing to determine the precise expiration of each batch produced.”
Synonyms
03breathing out
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Medicine Technical
n. the act of breathing air out of your lungs.
n. the act or process of releasing air from the lungs through the nose or mouth.
Español:espiración
“The doctor asked the patient to practice slow expiration to help them relax.”
“The respiratory therapist monitored the patient's forced expiration volume to assess the extent of the airway obstruction.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
04death
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Formal · Literary
n. a very formal or polite way to talk about someone dying.
n. a formal or euphemistic term for the end of a life.
“The old king's expiration was mourned by the entire country for a month.”
“The historical records provide a detailed account of the philosopher's quiet expiration in his library, surrounded by his unfinished manuscripts.”
Antonyms
Usage
Often paired with 'date' or 'of' ('the expiration of'). In British English, 'expiry' is the more common form.
Pitfall
the expire of the contract
the expiration of the contract
Learners often use the verb 'expire' where the noun 'expiration' or 'expiry' is required.
Real-World Examples
“The recall specifically covers 15ml bottles carrying lot code 2552A and an expiration date of 30 September 2027.” “Most of the shows I consumed were well past their expiration date, but that didn’t matter.” Etymology
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.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/expiration
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0