WordGarden.ioexpiry
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /ɛkspˈaɪəri/
US
- /ˌɛkˈspaɪri/
Meanings
Noun
the end or date of a period when something is valid or usable
Beyond the definition
Imagine your favorite yogurt. It tastes great today, but there is a small date printed on the container. That date marks the point after which the maker can no longer promise the same quality or safety. But this idea is not just about food. Subscriptions, visas, warranties, and many official documents also have an expiry date. You can think of it as a time limit. Once that point is reached, something is no longer valid, safe, or ready to use. You might get a reminder about the expiry of your driver's license, telling you to renew it before you are no longer allowed to drive.
The word "expiry" refers to the end of a fixed period of time, after which something is no longer valid, effective, or safe to use. It is most often used for dates, limits, and official periods that come to an end. While many people first meet the word on food or medicine labels, the idea reaches much further than that.
Expiry dates matter because they help people know when something should no longer be trusted in the same way. Medicine may become less effective over time. Food may no longer be safe or fresh. A passport, visa, insurance policy, contract, subscription, or software license may stop being legally valid or active after a certain date. In each case, the expiry marks the end of the period when something can still be used, accepted, or relied on.
You will often see "expiry" in legal, financial, medical, and everyday contexts. Someone might talk about the expiry of a contract, the expiry date on a credit card, or the expiry of a gym membership. It is usually a practical word, used when a clear ending point matters. Understanding expiry is not just about avoiding spoiled milk. It is also about noticing deadlines and knowing when documents, products, or services need to be renewed, replaced, or checked again.
Examples
- 1
Payment cards
Enter your card number and expiry date.
- 2
Food labels
We used the milk before the expiry date on the carton.
- 3
Official documents
She forgot to renew her passport before its expiry.
- 4
Lease terms
On expiry of the current lease, the rent will be reviewed.
- Patternon expiry of + agreement/period
when it officially ends
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Insurance policy
After the policy's expiry, the insurer would not accept any new claims.
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- expiry date
- before expiry
- upon expiry
- expiry of a contract
Word family
Explore
- validity period
- grace period
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- expirynoun