What does unexpired mean?
Unexpired describes something that has not reached the point at which it ceases to be valid, effective, or usable. The word is especially associated with passports, visas, leases, certificates, contracts, and similar items that have a defined period of validity. An unexpired document may still have restrictions or be close to its deadline, but it remains officially recognized for the purpose in question. The term is more formal and technical than everyday alternatives such as “valid” or “current,” and it appears frequently in instructions, legal documents, and administrative notices. Its negative form is “expired,” meaning that the permitted period has ended or the item is no longer in force. Understanding “unexpired” is useful when reading requirements for travel, employment, housing, licensing, or legal agreements, since these often distinguish between credentials that are currently valid and those that have merely not yet expired.
adjectiveNot yet expired; still valid, effective, or in force. It is especially used of documents, agreements, credentials, and other things that have a stated deadline or period of validity.
- Still valid, effective, or in force; not yet expired.
"The airline would not accept the ticket because the unexpired visa had to be presented at check-in."
"Applicants must present an unexpired passport when they arrive at the embassy."
"The tenant remained in the apartment under an unexpired lease."
The word’s literal past is surprisingly physical: expire comes from Latin exspirare, meaning “to breathe out.”
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Words that share this root
How unexpired is actually used
This is a formal and largely administrative word, common in legal, governmental, financial, and official contexts. In everyday speech, “valid” or “current” is often more natural.
Easily confused with unexpired
An unexpired document or agreement is still valid or in force, whereas an expired one is no longer valid.