vigencia
“vigencia” means “validity” in Spanish (referring to the time period a document is good for).
validity
Also: effectiveness, relevance
📝 In Action
El pasaporte tiene una vigencia de diez años.
B1The passport has a validity of ten years.
Esa ley ya no tiene vigencia en este país.
B2That law is no longer in effect in this country.
Sus teorías científicas aún mantienen su vigencia.
C1His scientific theories still remain relevant today.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: vigencia
Question 1 of 3
If a law 'entra en vigencia' tomorrow, what does that mean?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin 'vigentia', which comes from the verb 'vigere' meaning 'to be lively' or 'to thrive'.
First recorded: 17th Century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'vigencia' the same as 'fecha de caducidad'?
Not exactly. 'Fecha de caducidad' is the specific date something expires (like milk), while 'vigencia' is the state of being valid or the time period of that validity.
Can I use 'vigencia' for people?
Generally, no. It is used for laws, documents, ideas, or trends. You wouldn't say a person has 'vigencia' unless you were speaking very metaphorically about their professional relevance.
Is it a very formal word?
It is neutral to formal. You will hear it in news reports and legal settings, but also when checking if a discount code or a passport is still good to use.