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>