EXPIRED

Expired designates something whose stated duration of validity or usefulness has ended. It is commonly applied to dates, licenses, warranties, and time-bound rights, but can also describe objects or statuses that are no longer active or allowed. The exact consequence depends on context and policy.

In consumer goods, expiration dates indicate the period during which a product is expected to retain its quality. Food labels may show use-by, sell-by, or best-before dates; safety considerations are most critical for perishable items. Medicines and supplements regularly carry strict expiration dates, with reduced potency or risk beyond them.

Beyond products, expiration applies to documents and commitments. Passports, visas, licenses, warranties, and coupons can lose validity after a set date, potentially restricting travel, eligibility, or claim rights. Some items may still function after expiry, but reliability and legal protections often decline.

In law and administration, expiration can terminate rights or obligations unless renewed. Offers, deadlines, and statutory limitations may lapse, triggering renewal processes or penalties. Systems and policies often require monitoring of expirations to maintain compliance and safety.

Spelling varies by region: expiry is common in British English, expiration in American usage. The verb to expire describes the act of reaching the end of a validity period.

See also: shelf life, use-by date, best-before date, lapse, renewal, validity.