# expiration

/ˌɛkspɝˈeɪʃən/ (US) · /ɛkspəɹˈeɪʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/expiration
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. end of validity

noun · CEFR B2

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

For teachers: 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.

### 2. food safety

noun · CEFR B2

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

For teachers: 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.

### 3. breathing out

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the act of breathing air out of your lungs.

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

- 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.

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

### 4. death

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal · Literary

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

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- Check the expiration date on the milk before you buy it.
- The tenant was required to vacate the apartment immediately following the expiration of the lease agreement.
- While the legal expiration of the treaty was set for midnight, diplomats worked feverishly until the final second to negotiate an extension that would prevent a trade war.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.