échéant

Échéant is a French present participle of the verb écheoir, meaning to fall due, to come due, or to expire. Used as an adjective or adverb, it describes something that is due, upcoming, or relevant at a given time. It is closely linked to the noun échéance (the due date or deadline); whereas échéance names a date, échéant indicates the moment when an obligation becomes due.

Etymology: The term derives from the verb écheoir, from Old French escheoir, and ultimately from the notion of something that falls due. The form échéant is the present participle, functioning as a qualifier of time.

Usage: In formal contexts such as contracts, civil procedure, and administrative language, échéant helps specify timing. The more common fixed expression is à échéant, meaning if applicable or as needed. That phrase uses the sense of “when relevant” and is a standard tool to introduce conditional provisions. The term is typical of written French rather than everyday speech and can convey precision about deadlines and maturities.

See also: Échéance, Écheoir, À échéant.

Note: Though widely understood by French speakers, échéant is chiefly a feature of formal writing and may appear archaic or technical outside specialized contexts.