expiration
C1Formal, Technical, Legal, Medical
Definition
Meaning
The end of a fixed period of time for which something is valid or lasts; the act of breathing out air from the lungs.
The point at which something ceases to exist, function, or be relevant; termination or conclusion. In medicine/biology: the process of exhaling.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used for contractual, legal, or official deadlines. The 'breathing out' sense is technical/medical. Often implies a pre-determined, scheduled end point rather than a spontaneous cessation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In American English, 'expiration date' is standard for food/products. In British English, 'expiry date' is more common for this meaning, though 'expiration date' is understood. 'Expiration' is slightly more formal in UK English.
Connotations
American: Neutral/standard for official endings. British: Slightly more formal/technical; 'expiry' is often preferred for everyday contexts like food.
Frequency
Higher frequency in American English, especially in consumer contexts. In British English, 'expiry' competes closely in frequency for dates/deadlines.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
the expiration of [NOUN PHRASE][NOUN] expirationexpiration on [DATE]valid until expirationVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “On the expiration of...”
- “With the expiration of...”
- “Run until expiration”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Referring to the end of a contract, subscription, or warranty period.
Academic
Used in legal, medical, or technical papers to denote the end of a process or validity.
Everyday
Most commonly encountered on food packaging or medicine (as 'expiration date').
Technical
In medicine: the exhalation phase of breathing. In computing: the invalidation of cached data or a security token.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The contract is due to expire next quarter.
- Our licence will expire on the last day of the month.
American English
- My driver's license expires in July.
- The offer expires at midnight.
adverb
British English
- The membership runs expiry-forward for one year.
- (Rarely used as an adverb)
American English
- The coupon is valid expiration-onward for 30 days.
- (Rarely used as an adverb)
adjective
British English
- Check the expiry date before you buy.
- The expiring treaty needs renegotiation.
American English
- Check the expiration date on the yogurt.
- We need to discuss the expiring lease terms.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Look at the expiration date on the milk.
- My passport's expiration is next year.
- The software license has reached its expiration.
- Upon expiration of the agreement, all rights revert to the author.
- The court ruled that the policy was valid until its expiration.
- The expiration of the statute of limitations barred further prosecution.
- Physiologists measure the force of expiration during pulmonary function tests.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of EXpiration as EXit time – the time something EXits its period of validity.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A RESOURCE THAT RUNS OUT (The expiration date on the milk). A CONTRACT/AGREEMENT IS A LIVING ENTITY WITH A LIFESPAN (The lease came to its expiration).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'inspiration' (вдохновение). 'Expiration' is 'истечение срока' or 'выдох'. For a date, it's 'срок годности' or 'дата истечения'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'expiration' for a person's death (too clinical/technical). *'The expiration of my grandfather' is wrong. Confusing 'expiration' (end) with 'inspiration' (beginning/idea).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'expiration' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Expiry' is more common in British English, especially for dates (expiry date). 'Expiration' is preferred in American English and in more formal/technical contexts globally. They are largely synonymous.
It can, but it is an extremely formal, clinical, or euphemistic term (e.g., 'upon his expiration'). In everyday language, 'death' or 'passing away' is used.
Yes, in medical and biological contexts, 'expiration' is the technical term for exhalation, opposite of 'inspiration' (inhalation).
The verb is 'to expire'. Something that is no longer valid 'has expired'.
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