expiration

American  

[ek-spuh-rey-shuhn] / ˌɛk spəˈreɪ ʃən /

noun

1. a coming to an end; termination; close.

   the expiration of a contract.

2. the act of expiring, or breathing out; emission of air from the lungs.

3. Archaic. death.

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expiration British  

/ ˌɛkspɪˈreɪʃən /

noun

1. the finish of something; ending; expiry

2. the act, process, or sound of breathing out

3. rare a last breath; death

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expiration Scientific  

/ ĕk′spə-rā′shən /

1. See exhalation

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Other Word Forms

• nonexpiration noun
• preexpiration noun

Etymology

Origin of expiration

1375–1425; late Middle English expiracioun < Latin expīrātiōn- (stem of expīrātiō ), equivalent to expīrāt ( us ) (past participle of ex ( s ) pīrāre to expire ) + -iōn- -ion

Compare meaning

How does expiration compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• expiry vs. expiration

Example Sentences

If they can’t agree, the league has been mapping out contingencies that include fast-tracking officials from the collegiate level before the expiration of the current agreement on May 31.

From The Wall Street Journal

CVS has a small number of closures planned for the year, primarily due to lease expirations and relocations, she added.

From The Wall Street Journal

Grocery Outlet, founded in 1946 in San Francisco, is known for selling discounted overstock items, such as holiday foods and drinks nearing expiration.

From Los Angeles Times

For nearly a decade, financial planners operated under an artificial clock: the scheduled expiration of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

From Barron's

The so-called strangle strategy entails buying a put option and call option that are below and above the market, respectively, and that share the same expiration date.

From Barron's

Related Words

• expiry
• termination