# expired

/ɪkˈspaɪɹd/ (US) · /ɛkspˈaɪəd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/expired
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. no longer valid

adjective · CEFR B2

no longer useful or legal because the set time has passed.

For teachers: having reached the end of a period of validity; no longer legally or practically effective.

- I couldn't board the plane because my passport was expired.
- The security guard refused entry to the visitor, noting that the identification badge had been expired for several months.

Usage: Often used as a predicative adjective after 'is' or 'has'.

### 2. ended or died

verb · CEFR B2 · Formal

the past action of coming to an end or dying.

For teachers: the past tense of 'expire', indicating that a time limit has passed or a person has ceased to breathe.

- The old contract expired last night at midnight.
- The patient expired peacefully in the early hours of the morning, surrounded by his immediate family.

Teaching tip: Using 'expired' for a person's death is very formal and mostly found in medical or legal contexts; 'passed away' is more common for general use.

## Examples

- I cannot travel because my passport is expired.
- The store manager removed the milk from the shelf because the date on the carton had expired.
- Although the initial contract had expired, both parties continued to operate under the original terms while the legal teams negotiated a more comprehensive long-term agreement.

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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.