prazo

Prazo is a Portuguese noun that denotes a defined period of time or a deadline by which a task must be completed. It refers to both the duration of an obligation and the terminal date when an action becomes due. The term is common in everyday language as well as in legal, administrative, and financial contexts.

In legal and administrative settings, prazo establishes deadlines for filing lawsuits or administrative appeals, submitting documents, or complying with requirements and payments. Missing a prazo can lead to consequences such as procedural setbacks, loss of rights, or penalties, depending on the governing rules of the jurisdiction and the specific matter.

Common expressions include prazo de entrega (delivery deadline), prazo de validade (expiry date), prazo legal (legal deadline), prazo contratual (contractual term), and prazo de carência (grace period in insurance or loans). Deadlines are usually counted in calendar days or business days (dias úteis), with counting methods varying by jurisdiction, document, and field. The end of a prazo is often called data de vencimento or data limite, though these terms are not interchangeable in all contexts.

The concept is used across Portuguese-speaking regions, including Brazil and Portugal, with standard meanings but sometimes differing counting practices by area of law or administration. Cognates exist in related Romance languages, such as Spanish plazo. See also vencimento and data de validade.