expiration date

Meaning

An expiration date is the date printed on product packaging after which it should no longer be sold or consumed. It is widely used for food, medicine, cosmetics, and even official documents like passports. It indicates when something is no longer safe or effective to use.

Examples

• Always check the expiration date on the milk carton before pouring it.

  Always check the expiration date on the milk carton before pouring it.

• This yogurt is past its expiration date, so we should probably throw it out.

  This yogurt is past its expiration date, so we should probably throw it out.

• I need to renew my passport because the expiration date is next month.

  I need to renew my passport because the expiration date is next month.

• Some canned foods are still safe to eat even after their expiration date.

  Some canned foods are still safe to eat even after their expiration date.

• The pharmacy cannot sell medicine that has passed its expiration date.

  The pharmacy cannot sell medicine that has passed its expiration date.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ What is the expire date of this cheese?

  ✓ What is the expiration date of this cheese?

  'Expire' is a verb. The noun phrase requires the noun form 'expiration' (or 'expiry' in British English).

• ✗ This bread has expired its date.

  ✓ This bread is past its expiration date.

  A product does not 'expire its date'. Instead, the product itself 'expires' or is 'past its expiration date'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Don't drink that juice; it is way past its ___.

  💡 The printed date showing when a product is no longer fresh or safe.

  Show answer

  expiration date

• I always look at the ___ when buying fresh meat at the supermarket.

  💡 The calendar date after which food shouldn't be consumed.

  Show answer

  expiration date