LingvoCore.com

expiration date

Medium-High
UK/ˌɛk.spɪˈreɪ.ʃən ˌdeɪt/US/ˌɛk.spəˈreɪ.ʃən ˌdeɪt/

Formal/Neutral

My Flashcards

Definition

Meaning

The final date after which a product (especially food or medicine) should not be used, or a document/agreement is no longer valid.

The specific point in time when something officially ceases to be effective, usable, or enforceable, often predetermined and marked on an item or contract.

Linguistics

Semantic Notes

Primarily refers to a predetermined, fixed endpoint. Often implies a safety, legal, or functional boundary. Can be used metaphorically (e.g., for relationships, trends).

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

In British English, 'expiry date' is more common in everyday contexts (e.g., on food). In American English, 'expiration date' is dominant, though 'expiry date' is understood.

Connotations

Both terms are neutral and technical. 'Expiration date' can sound slightly more formal or official in all varieties.

Frequency

'Expiration date' is significantly more frequent in AmE. 'Expiry date' is the standard term in BrE for consumer products, though 'expiration date' is used in legal/financial contexts.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
check the expiration datepast the expiration datehas an expiration dateexpiration date printedexpiration date passes
medium
clearly marked expiration datenear its expiration datevalid until the expiration dateextend the expiration date
weak
official expiration datefinal expiration dateshort expiration datelong expiration date

Grammar

Valency Patterns

The [NOUN] has an expiration date of [DATE].The [NOUN] is past its expiration date.[VERB] the expiration date on the [NOUN].

Vocabulary

Synonyms

Strong

termination dateend date

Neutral

expiry dateuse-by datebest-before date (for food quality)valid until

Weak

sell-by date (for retailers)cut-off date

Vocabulary

Antonyms

issue datestart dateproduction dateeffective date

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

  • “On borrowed time (similar metaphorical sense)”
  • “Living on borrowed time”

Usage

Context Usage

Business

The contract's expiration date is December 31st; we must renegotiate before then.

Academic

The study noted that the medication's efficacy declined sharply after the labeled expiration date.

Everyday

I had to throw the milk away because it was two days past the expiration date.

Technical

The SSL certificate's expiration date must be monitored to avoid service interruption.

Examples

By Part of Speech

verb

British English

  • The lease is due to expire next quarter.
  • My passport expires in June.

American English

  • The offer expires at midnight.
  • Your license will expire if you don't renew it.

adverb

British English

  • Not commonly derived. 'The contract ended, having expired.'

American English

  • Not commonly derived. 'The coupon was used, now expired.'

adjective

British English

  • We need to check for expired products.
  • The expired licence was not accepted.

American English

  • Do not take expired medication.
  • The system rejected the expired password.

Examples

By CEFR Level

A2
  • Look at the expiration date on the yoghurt.
  • My bus pass has an expiration date.
B1
  • You shouldn't eat anything after its expiration date for safety.
  • The discount coupon has an expiration date printed at the bottom.
C1
  • The diplomatic visa's expiration date necessitated a complex renewal process.
  • Critics argued that the political doctrine had long passed its intellectual expiration date.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think of a balloon losing air – it EXPIRES. The EXPIRATION DATE is when the air (or usefulness) is completely gone.

Conceptual Metaphor

TIME IS A COMMODITY WITH A LIMITED SHELF LIFE. / VALIDITY IS A CONTAINER THAT EMPTIES.

Watch out

Common Pitfalls

Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)

  • Avoid direct calques like '*date of expiration*'. Use the fixed noun phrase 'expiration date'.
  • Do not confuse with 'manufacture date' (дата изготовления) or 'date of issue' (дата выдачи).
  • In Russian, 'срок годности' is the closest concept, but it's a period, not a specific date. English specifies the *date* when that period ends.

Common Mistakes

  • Incorrect: 'The food is expired date.' Correct: 'The food is past its expiration date.'
  • Incorrect preposition: 'expiration date for milk'. More common: 'expiration date on the milk'.
  • Confusing 'best before date' (about quality) with 'expiration date' (about safety).

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
Always the expiration date before you buy medicine.
Multiple Choice

In which context is 'expiration date' LEAST likely to be used?

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Not exactly. An 'expiration date' (or 'use-by date') is often related to safety—consuming after may be risky. A 'best before date' is about quality—the product may be safe but not at its peak quality after that date.

Yes, but it's metaphorical. E.g., 'Some say that style has an expiration date.' It's informal and suggests something becomes outdated or irrelevant.

BrE overwhelmingly prefers 'expiry date' for consumer goods. AmE almost exclusively uses 'expiration date'. Both are correct and understood in either variety.

'Check' is very common (e.g., 'Check the expiration date'). Also 'pass' (e.g., 'The date has passed'), 'have', 'reach', and 'extend'.