Ablaufend

Ablaufend is a German adjective derived from the verb ablaufen, meaning to run out or to expire. It describes something that is in the process of ending or whose validity is approaching its end. It is mainly used in formal, administrative, or technical language to indicate a time-sensitive status. The corresponding past participle abgelaufen denotes that something has already expired, while ablaufend emphasizes the ongoing process toward expiry. The related noun Ablauf is the event of an expiry, and Ablaufdatum is the expiry date.

Etymology: from ablaufen + -end (present participle adjective). It shares meaning with laufend but with a focus on end or termination.

Usage: Common in phrases like eine ablaufende Frist (a deadline that is expiring), ein ablaufender Vertrag (a contract that is due to expire), ablaufende Zertifikate (expiring certificates). In many contexts, speakers would rather say, Die Frist läuft ab heute Mitternacht or Der Vertrag läuft aus, rather than using ablaufend. The form ablaufend occurs primarily in written, bureaucratic or technical registers, sometimes attributively before feminine or masculine nouns: eine ablaufende Frist, ein ablaufender Vertrag.

Translation: In English, it corresponds to expiring or about to expire, depending on context.