expiration

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Middle English expiracioun, exspiracioun (vapor, breath), from Latin expīrātiōnem, exspīrātiōnem, accusative singular of expīrātiō, exspīrātiō.[1][2] By surface analysis, expire +‎ -ation.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˌɛk.spəˈɹeɪ.ʃən/
  • Audio (Southern England):(file)
  • (Philippines, nonstandard) IPA(key): /ˌɛk.spaɪˈɹeɪ.ʃən/
  • Rhymes: -eɪʃən

Noun

expiration (countable and uncountable, plural expirations)

  1. An act, process, or instance of expiring.
    1. (uncountable) The act or process of breathing out, or forcing air from the lungs through the nose or mouth.
      Synonym: exhalation
      Antonyms: inspiration, inhalation
      Holonym: respiration
      crackles heard on expiration
    2. (countable) A single outward breath.
      Synonym: exhalation
      Antonyms: inspiration, inhalation
      labored expirations
    3. Other similar release of volatile matter.
      Synonym: emission
    4. (euphemistic) The last emission of breath; thus, synonym of death.
      Synonyms: demise, quietus; see also Thesaurus:death
    5. Any other (metaphorically comparable) cessation, extinction, or ending.
      Synonyms: termination, end
      expiration date
    6. That which is produced by breathing out, as a sound.

Usage notes

  • In most senses, mainly US; UK equivalent is expiry.
  • The pronunciation based on that of expire is common in Philippine English, but is otherwise proscribed elsewhere.

Derived terms

Translations

References

  1. ^ Douglas Harper (2001–2025) “expiration (n.)”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
  2. ^ expirāciǒun, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.

French

Etymology

Inherited from Middle French expiration, borrowed from Latin exspīrātiōnem.

Pronunciation

  • Audio:(file)

Noun

expiration f (plural expirations)

  1. expiration (act of expiring)
  2. expiration (act of breathing out)
  3. expiration (end)

Further reading