Investment Types

Maturity: Definition

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Simple Definition

The date a bond ends, when the issuer repays the face value.

Why It Matters

Maturity is when the loan is due — anywhere from a few months to 30 years. Longer maturities usually carry more risk, because more can change while your money is tied up, so they often pay more interest. Maturity also affects how much a bond's price moves when rates change.

Key Points

  • Short-term bonds mature soon; long-term bonds can run 20–30 years
  • Longer maturity generally means bigger price swings when rates move
  • Holding to maturity returns the face value (barring default)

Learn More

Foundation Lesson

What Are Bonds?

Get a complete explanation with examples, key takeaways, and a quiz to test your knowledge.

Related Terms

Common Questions

The date a bond ends, when the issuer repays the face value. Maturity is when the loan is due — anywhere from a few months to 30 years. Longer maturities usually carry more risk, because more can change while your money is tied up, so they often pay more interest.

Maturity is when the loan is due — anywhere from a few months to 30 years. Longer maturities usually carry more risk, because more can change while your money is tied up, so they often pay more interest. Maturity also affects how much a bond's price moves when rates change.

Short-term bonds mature soon; long-term bonds can run 20–30 years

Longer maturity generally means bigger price swings when rates move

Holding to maturity returns the face value (barring default)