lifespan

noun

life·​span ˈlīf-ˌspan 

variants or less commonly life span

plural lifespans also life-spans

1

: the average length of life of a kind of organism or of a material object especially in a particular environment or under specified circumstances

2

: the duration of existence of an individual

Synonyms of lifespan

• duration
• life
• lifetime
• time

Examples of lifespan in a Sentence

the average lifespan of house cats

increase the human lifespan

Recent Examples on the Web

In addition, the system could improve hydraulic pump efficiency, extend pump lifespan, and reduce unexpected downtime. — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 10 Nov. 2026

Median lifespan fell by roughly 11% in females and 13% in males. — New Atlas, 6 Nov. 2026

Each robot is estimated to have a useful operational lifespan of about five years. — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 5 Nov. 2026

While running shoes generally can have a lifespan between 300 to 500 miles, some experts encourage runners to rotate a couple of pairs of shoes to get the most out of them. — Kamaron McNair, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1831, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for lifespan

• businessman
• canavan
• caravan
• constantan
• dragoman
• fisherman
• handyman
• harmattan
• journeyman
• marianne
• middleman
• minivan

Kids Definition

life span

noun

: the average length of life of a living thing or of the persistence of a material object under specified circumstances or in a particular environment

Medical Definition

lifespan

noun

ˈlīf-ˌspan 

variants also life span

1

: the duration of existence of an individual

2

: the average length of life of a kind of organism or of a material object especially in a particular environment or under specified circumstances