expiration

noun

ex·​pi·​ra·​tion ˌek-spə-ˈrā-shən 

1

a

: the last emission of breath : death

b(1)

: the act or process of releasing air from the lungs through the nose or mouth : exhalation

(2)

: the escape of carbon dioxide from the body protoplasm (as through the blood and lungs or by diffusion)

2

: the fact of coming to an end or the point at which something ends : termination

Synonyms

• death
• demise
• expiry
• termination

Examples of expiration in a Sentence

one month after the expiration of the contract

directed that upon her expiration her splendid Italian-style villa be given to the public as a museum

Recent Examples on the Web

Lack of transparency around point value and expiration breeds mistrust. —Gary Drenik, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025

This entails: Buying the July 18 $195 put @ $5.70 Selling the July 18 $180 put @ $1.71 The maximum reward is $1,101 per contract if AAPL is below $180 at expiration. —Tony Zhang, CNBC, 18 June 2025

All ground lease co-op shareholders are made aware that ground rents might occasionally increase, that their apartments will lose value as the ground lease agreement approaches expiration, and that their ownership interest in the co-op will end when the long-term ground lease expires. —Jay Neveloff, New York Daily News, 11 June 2025

Gazprom had been looking at Turkey as a way back into Europe for Russian natural gas with Nord Stream pipelines to Germany out of action, the 2024 expiration of a gas transit deal through Ukraine and a downturn caused by the war. —Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1526, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing expiration

• expiration date

Rhymes for expiration

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

expiration

noun

ex·​pi·​ra·​tion ˌek-spə-ˈrā-shən 

1

a

: the expelling of air from the lungs in breathing

b

: air or vapor expelled from the lungs

2

: the fact of coming to an end

Medical Definition

expiration

noun

ex·​pi·​ra·​tion ˌek-spə-ˈrā-shən 

1

a(1)

: the act or process of releasing air from the lungs through the nose or mouth : exhalation

(2)

: the escape of carbon dioxide from the body protoplasm (as through the blood and lungs or by diffusion)

b

archaic : the last emission of breath : death

2

: something produced by breathing out