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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Friday marks the quarterly expiration of stock index futures, stock index options and single stock options. Brian Evans,sean Conlon, CNBC, 19 Dec. 2024 Another potential change is the expiration of the qualified business income deduction, which allowed small business owners, freelancers and others who own their own business to deduct 20% of their income from their taxes. Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 13 Dec. 2024 With the expiration of a Russian transit deal to supply gas via Ukraine at year’s end, the continent faces yet another hurdle in securing its energy future. Dan Eberhart, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024 Flores suggests people save their information on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website and set a calendar reminder 150 days before expiration to submit the application. Gina Lee Castro, Journal Sentinel, 12 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for expiration 

Word History

First Known Use

1526, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of expiration was in 1526

Dictionary Entries Near expiration

Cite this Entry

“Expiration.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/expiration. Accessed 2 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

expiration

noun
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
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

More from Merriam-Webster on expiration

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