échéance

Échéance is a French term describing the date on which something becomes due, expires, or reaches maturity. It denotes the point in time by which an obligation must be fulfilled or a contract term ends.

In finance, échéance is used to denote the maturity date of a debt instrument or the due date for payments on a loan, bond, or derivative. For example, a bond’s échéance is when the principal is repaid. In accounting, invoices carry an échéance—the date by which payment should be made. Failing to meet an échéance can trigger penalties, interest, or default risk.

In legal and administrative contexts, échéance marks deadlines for performing obligations, filing documents, or exercising rights, such as renewal of a license or submission of statements within a filing period. The term can also apply to insurance, where it denotes the expiration date of a policy or the date a premium becomes due.

Language usage varies: à l’échéance means at the due date or upon maturity, and phrases such as à l’échéance de l’année indicate timing at a particular end point. Conceptually, échéance is linked to time value and risk of non-payment and is often discussed alongside related notions such as deadlines, grace periods, or renewal terms.