expectancy

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noun ex·pec·tan·cy \ik-ˈspek-tən(t)-sē\

Definition of expectancy

plural

expectancies

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

See expectancy defined for English-language learners

See expectancy defined for kids

Examples of expectancy in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of expectancy from the Web

The United States spends 18% of GDP on health care yet has one of the lowest life expectancies of any rich country.

— The Economist, "Without governments, would countries have more inequality, or less?," 13 July 2017
West Virginia is saddled with one of the country’s lowest median incomes and has some of the worst rates of unemployment, drug overdose deaths, life expectancy, smoking, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer and disabilities.

— Washington Post, "WV reliance on Obama law makes it tough for GOP senator," 7 July 2017
Tri-Creek's new solar panel arrays have a 25-year warranty and have a life expectancy of 30 years, Howe said.

— carrie napoleon, Post-Tribune, "Lowell school district makes switch to solar power," 5 July 2017
The flood tide comes as people are living longer; life expectancy at birth grew by 10.5 years between 1950 and 2010.

— gary robbins, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Baby boomers fuel wave of products meant to help them live longer and better," 30 June 2017
Life expectancy is typically between 40 and 60 years, according to the National Institutes of Health.

— derek hawkins, chicagotribune.com, "How rap revolutionary Prodigy, dead at 42, overcame the pain of sickle cell anemia," 21 June 2017
If 60 was accepted as old at the beginning of the 20th century, when babies born in 1900 had a life expectancy of 50, it certainly isn’t considered so anymore.

— ana veciana-suarez, miamiherald, "Old age, like beauty, is in the eye of beholder," 20 June 2017
According to a 2012 study published by the U.S. Library of Medicine, patients with a heart transplant had an average life expectancy of 9.16 years.

— frank vaisvilas, Daily Southtown, "Dolton firefighter remembered as 'larger than life' at funeral," 17 June 2017
Overall, the NHS works well; the Brits have longer life expectancy, lower infant mortality, and somewhat better health statistics than the U.S., at far less cost.

— t.r. reid, The Atlantic, "How We Spend $3,400,000,000,000," 15 June 2017

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.

First Known Use of expectancy

1600

EXPECTANCY Defined for English Language Learners

expectancy

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noun

Definition of expectancy for English Language Learners

: a feeling that something is going to happen : the feeling that you have when you are expecting something

Medical Dictionary

expectancy

play

noun ex·pec·tan·cy \-ˈspek-tən-sē\

Medical Definition of expectancy

plural

expectancies

: the expected amount (as of the number of years of life) based on statistical probability—see life expectancy

Law Dictionary

expectancy

noun ex·pec·tan·cy

Legal Definition of expectancy

plural

expectancies

: something expected: as a : an interest held by a person who may receive something (as a bequest) in the future but has no enforceable right to it b : the benefit that will be received from a contract if performed