Main Entry: ex·pec·tan·cy

Pronunciation: \-tən(t)-sē\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural ex·pec·tan·cies

Date: 1600

1 a : the act, action, or state of expecting <the strange expectancy that getting on any train gives us — John Updike> b : the state of being expected <occurs with an expectancy slightly greater than usual>
2 a : something expected <their belief led to an expectancy> b : the expected amount (as of the number of years of life) based on statistical probability <life expectancy>