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 the stock is below $292.50 at expiration, investors must buy the stock.

From Barron's

The new tariff also has an expiration date.

From The Wall Street Journal

A wave of teacher contracts is up for renegotiation now, thanks to a strategy the unions implemented a few years ago to synchronize expiration dates.

From The Wall Street Journal

Be aware of the stipulations of a 0% credit card, though — those rates are only available for a limited time, and any amount that is unpaid at the expiration could result in high interest fees.

From MarketWatch

The question of how to limit nuclear arms is all the more pressing as it follows the expiration earlier this month of the New Start treaty that reduced U.S. and Russian long-range nuclear arms.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• expiry
• termination