Expiration

/ˌɛkspəˈreɪʃən/

nounmedium📊CommonProcess
2 meanings1 idiom/phrase3 questions

Definitions

2 meanings
1

The process of ceasing to be valid; the end or termination of a period of time.

/ˌɛkspəˈreɪʃən/

nounneutralmedium
Process

The act of ending or termination

The expiration of the warranty means the repair costs are now the owner's responsibility.

💡 Simply: Imagine a coupon you have to use at the store. The expiration is the day it's no longer good! It's when something stops being valid.

👶 For kids: When something is all done and can't be used anymore, like a juice box's expiration date!

More Examples

2

The expiration date on the food packaging indicates when it is no longer safe to consume.

3

The contract's expiration prompted the company to start negotiations for a renewal.

How It's Used

Legal

"The expiration date of the contract was approaching."

Financial

"The expiration of the lease agreement resulted in new negotiations."

2

The act of breathing out; exhalation.

/ˌɛkspəˈreɪʃən/

nounneutralmedium
Biological

The act of breathing out

The respiratory rate was measured during both inspiration and expiration.

💡 Simply: It's like when you breathe out. Remember how you blew out candles?

👶 For kids: When you blow air out of your body!

More Examples

2

During expiration, the lungs contract and release air.

3

A spirometer is often used to measure the volume of air during inspiration and expiration.

How It's Used

Medical

"The doctor asked the patient to take a deep breath and then to exhale during expiration."

Tip:Think of the word 'exhale' which sounds similar and means to breathe out.

Idioms & expressions

expiration date

The date after which something is no longer valid or usable.

"The expiration date on the yogurt was yesterday, so I threw it away."

From Latin *expiratio* (“a breathing out, end”), from *exspirare* (“to breathe out, expire”), from *ex-* (“out”) + *spirare* (“to breathe”).

The word 'expiration' has been used since the 14th century, originally referring to the act of breathing out.

Memory tip

Think of a coupon or license. Once it hits its expiration date, it's no longer usable.

Word Origin

LanguageLatin
Original meaning

"to breathe out, expire"

expiration datedate of expirationexpiration of a contractexpiration periodexpiration time

Common misspellings

expiriationexpiriationexpireation

Usage

30%Spoken
70%Written