expired

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "expired" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that has gone past the expiration date, such as food, medicine, or a document. For example, "The milk in the fridge had expired, so I had to throw it out."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Sweeping US surveillance powers used by the National Security Agency expired at midnight after a dramatic showdown in the Senate.

The Guardian

Those powers expired with key provisions of the Patriot Act at 12.01am on Monday amid a showdown between defense hawks and civil liberties advocates.

The Guardian

Asked whether the rejection of bulk collection by Congress and the courts meant it was now time to review official US attitudes to Snowden, Rand Paul, the Republican presidential candidate who played a key role in ensuring the Patriot Act provisions expired on Sunday night, declined to comment.

The Guardian

Like many expired authoritarian rulers, he promoted himself as the champion of women's rights in a desperate attempt to appeal to sceptical audiences at home and abroad.

The Guardian

However, it approved the roles on condition that he did not draw on "privileged information" learned as a minister, and did not "personally lobby" the government for two years from his last day in office – a period that expired last month.

The Guardian

The government wanted to increase the $250,000 to $300,000 annual rent and to put the leases out to public tender when they expired in August 2005.

The Guardian

Cashman has never left, although he came close when his contract expired at the end of the 2005 season, breaking down in tears after the Yankees' first-round playoff loss against the Angels.

The New York Times - Sports

Liverpool have been in talks with Ings for some weeks and confirmed the deal in a statement which said: "Liverpool FC are delighted to announce that they have agreed personal terms with Danny Ings and, subject to a medical, the striker will join the club on July 1 after his contract with Burnley has expired".

The Guardian - Sport

Home secretary Theresa May said recently that the UK would be unable to hold back a tide of new immigration from the two former communist states once the existing transitional arrangements had expired.

The Guardian

This audio has now been removed because our usage period has expired In 1970, That's the Way It Is was captured.

The Guardian - Music

Meanwhile the San Bernardino Desert Sun newspaper found that Nestlé was pumping water from the San Bernardino national forest despite the fact that its permit expired 27 years ago.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "expired" to describe something that has lost its validity or effectiveness over time, whether it's a legal agreement or a food product.

Common error

Avoid using "expired" when you mean "terminated" due to a specific action or decision. "Expired" implies a natural end due to time, while "terminated" suggests a deliberate action to end something.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "expired" is as a past participle or past tense form of the verb expire. Ludwig AI confirms that it indicates the completion of a duration or the termination of validity, as seen in examples like "my visa "expired" last September."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "expired" functions primarily as a past participle or past tense verb, signifying that something is no longer valid or has reached its end. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use. It's most common in news and media, formal business, and scientific contexts, indicating a neutral to formal register. While alternatives such as "lapsed", "invalid", and "outdated" exist, the best choice depends on the specific context. When writing, ensure clarity by specifying what "expired" and when. Avoid confusing "expired" with "terminated", which implies a deliberate action rather than a natural end due to time.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lapsed

Indicates that something is no longer valid due to the passage of time or failure to renew.

no longer valid

A direct and unambiguous way to express that something has lost its validity.

terminated

Implies a more formal or abrupt ending than "expired".

invalid

Focuses on the lack of legal or official standing.

outdated

Suggests that something is no longer current or useful.

run out

A more informal way of saying that something has reached its end.

ceased

Emphasizes the termination of an action or state.

come to an end

Emphasizes the completion of a process or period.

passed away

A euphemism for death, applicable only to living beings.

decease

A formal term for death.

FAQs

How to use "expired" in a sentence?

You can use "expired" to indicate that something is no longer valid or has reached its end date. For example, "My driver's license has "expired"" or "The warranty on this product has "expired"".

What can I say instead of "expired"?

You can use alternatives like "lapsed", "invalid", "outdated", or "run out" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "expired" or "has been expired"?

"Expired" is the correct past participle form. "Has been expired" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "has expired". For example, "The milk has "expired"".

What's the difference between "expired" and "terminated"?

"Expired" indicates that something has reached its natural end date, while "terminated" implies a deliberate action to end something before its natural end. A contract can "expire" at the end of its term, or it can be "terminated" early due to a breach of contract.