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

What followed became one of the most significant archaeological investigations of slavery in the United States, revealing evidence of extreme physical labor, malnutrition, high infant mortality, and shortened life expectancy among people whose origins traced to various regions in Africa. — Christina Ray Stanton, New York Daily News, 19 June 2026

This was another brilliant day at the theater played on a pristine surface that has a life expectancy of another month or so. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 June 2026

The average life expectancy of his species is 150. — Mike Snider, USA Today, 17 June 2026

While life expectancy was lower during the 15th Century, nobles like Simonetta often lived longer due in part to their wealth. — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 17 June 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