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

• demise
• termination
• death
• dissolution

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

In weighing the kind of long-term commitment Tucker will be seeking, Hoyer acknowledged the Cubs have operated cautiously while approaching the expiration of baseball’s collective bargaining agreement, which runs through the 2026 season. —Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025

Roughly half of the 187,000 Minnesotans who purchase their health insurance through the individual market will be affected by the tax credit’s expiration, said Grace Arnold, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Commerce. —Dené K. Dryden, Twin Cities, 16 Oct. 2025

Los Angeles' spending habits may have an impact with the expiration of the current collective bargaining agreement between Major League Baseball and the MLB Players' Association set for this offseason. —Shaun McAvoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025

Existing Magic Key annual passes can be renewed during the month before expiration. —Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 14 Oct. 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