French word

expirer

Pronunciation

IPA/ɛkspiʁe/

Meaning

  • verbexpire

Example

Le lait expire demain.

The milk expires tomorrow.

Illustration for expirer (expire)

More examples

Le contrat expire si aucune partie ne le signe.

The contract expires if neither party signs it.

Core concept

A visible deadline closes the useful life of milk, paperwork, or a contract.

Common phrases

  • expirer dans trois jours

    expire in three days

  • expirer ce week-end

    expire this weekend

Similar words

se périmer: Lose quality or effectiveness after the marked date, especially for food or medicine.
perdre sa validité: No longer be valid or usable as a document or permit.
se gâter: Become spoiled and unfit to eat.

Definition in French

Arriver au terme de sa validité; se dit d'un produit, d'un document ou d'un contrat.

Word origin

Expirer developed from Latin exspirare, 'breathe out', and passed through the idea of dying before acquiring the broader sense of coming to an end.

Usage tips

  • On food and medicine labels, date d'expiration identifies an expiry date, while à consommer avant gives a date before which consumption is advised.

Other meanings

  • exhaleverb
  • dieverb

Opposites

Related words

  • expiréexpiredadjective

Word lists with this word