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

Researchers look at six factors including GDP per capita, life expectancy, generosity and perceptions of freedom and corruption to help account for variations among countries. —Jeanne Bonner, CNN Money, 19 Mar. 2026

The life expectancy of tigers in captivity can be up to 20 years, while tigers in the wild usually live between 10 and 15 years. —Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 19 Mar. 2026

The report said Finland and the other Northern European countries’ steady ranking on top is related to a combination of wealth, its equal distribution, having a welfare state that protects people from the risks of recessions, and a healthy life expectancy. —ABC News, 18 Mar. 2026

But for a patient who's 95 and probably has a life expectancy under 10 years, medication side effects can cause immediate harm, while the long-term benefits are less clear. —Mara Gordon, NPR, 17 Mar. 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