expectancy

noun

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ex·pec·tan·cy | \ ik-ˈspek-tən(t)-sē

plural expectancies

Definition of expectancy

1a : 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

2a : 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

Synonyms More Example Sentences Phrases Containing expectancy Learn More About expectancy

Examples of expectancy in a Sentence

that feeling of optimistic expectancy that fills theatergoers as they wait for the curtain to rise

Recent Examples on the Web Life expectancy in the US fell from 78.9 years in 2019 to 76.6 years in 2021 – now more than five years less than the average among peer nations. — Deidre Mcphillips, CNN, 7 Apr. 2022 Life expectancy is typically measured separately for males and females; overall, the pandemic’s toll was greater among males. — Amanda Montañez, Scientific American, 31 Dec. 2021 Life expectancy in the U.S. was about 79 years old in 2019, up by close to a decade since the 1960s, though there was a notable decrease in 2020 as the result of the Covid-19 pandemic, records show. — Katherine Clarke, WSJ, 23 Mar. 2022 Life expectancy for most racial groups has increased since then, but Black people can still expect to live shorter lives. — Zakiya Luna, refinery29.com, 2 Feb. 2022 Life expectancy has increased in recent decades, but researchers are looking for ways to further slow the aging process. — CBS News, 24 Nov. 2021 Life expectancy was short for a fighting man at the time. — Katherine Pangonis, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Feb. 2022 Life expectancy: Men, 58 years; women, 61. Most popular boys names: John and Robert. — Marc Bona, cleveland, 10 Jan. 2022 But a recent examination of life-expectancy data from the National Bureau of Economic Research reminds us that on that crucial metric, progress has been significant. — The Editorial Board, WSJ, 11 Oct. 2021 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'expectancy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.