Unexercised Option

Unexercised Option

An option in which the holder does not buy (in a call) or sell (in a put) the underlying asset by or on the expiration date. An option holder may let a contract expire unexercised because the price of the underlying has moved in an unfavorable direction or if exercising would harm his/her overall investment strategy. In an unexercised option, the contract becomes worthless and the holder loses the premium he/she paid to purchase it.