vencido
“vencido” means “defeated” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
defeated, beaten
Also: overcome
📝 In Action
El boxeador se sentía vencido después del nocaut.
B1The boxer felt defeated after the knockout.
Aunque la situación era difícil, no se dio por vencido.
B2Even though the situation was difficult, he didn't give up (didn't declare himself beaten).
expired, overdue
Also: matured, due
📝 In Action
Tenemos que pagar la renta antes de que esté vencida.
A2We have to pay the rent before it is overdue.
El plazo para entregar los documentos está vencido.
B2The deadline for submitting the documents has expired.
Me di cuenta de que mi pasaporte estaba vencido.
B1I realized that my passport was expired.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: vencido
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'vencido' in its administrative meaning?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin verb *vincere*, meaning 'to conquer' or 'to overcome.' The idea of 'winning' or 'finishing' is why the word evolved to mean both 'defeated' (the opposite of winning) and 'expired' (the finish line of a date).
First recorded: 13th century (as related verb forms)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'vencido' only used as an adjective?
No, it is the past participle of the verb 'vencer.' This means you will see it used in perfect tenses, like 'He has expired the contract' (*Él ha vencido el contrato*). However, its most common and independent use is as an adjective meaning 'defeated' or 'expired.'
What is the difference between 'vencido' and 'caducado'?
Both mean 'expired,' but 'vencido' is usually preferred for time periods, deadlines, documents, and bills. 'Caducado' is typically reserved for things that have an expiration date related to consumption, like food, medicine, or cosmetics.