life expectancy

noun

: the average lifespan of an individual

Examples of life expectancy in a Sentence

improvements in diet that have resulted in greater life expectancy for many people

calculating the life expectancies of different social groups

Recent Examples on the Web

Air pollution is severe in many cities and industrial regions and is estimated to have caused the average life expectancy of Indians to decrease by more than three years in 2022. — Aman Kumar, Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 July 2026

Beyond urological issues, Bordelon argues, there are many other factors that drive a shorter life expectancy for men. — Andrea Hsu, NPR, 21 July 2026

There is no cure, though there are some treatment options; Alzheimer’s patients have an average life expectancy of 11 years from diagnosis, according to the Mayo Clinic. — Niya Doyle, PEOPLE, 19 July 2026

When controlling for traditional predictors of mortality, only smoking showed a stronger association with life expectancy than insufficient sleep. — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1848, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

life expectancy

noun

: the number of years that an individual or group of a certain age can expect to live on the average based on experience in the past for individuals or groups of the same kind

Medical Definition

life expectancy

noun

: an expected number of years of life based on statistical probability

Legal Definition

life expectancy

noun

: the average life span of an individual