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
Examples of lifespan in a Sentence
the average lifespan of house cats
increase the human lifespan
Recent Examples on the Web
Modern cybersecurity systems must safeguard data at every stage of their lifespan, from creation to destruction, as privacy and risk management are inextricably linked.
—
Chuck Brooks, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Looking for something that will last, and delight, longer than a typical bouquet’s lifespan?
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 22 Jan. 2026
The finding that people who didn’t have children also aged faster and had shorter lifespans was more surprising, Hukkanen says.
—K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 22 Jan. 2026
If possible, schedule a professional carpet cleaning once or twice a year to extend the lifespan of your carpets and keep the air in your home healthier for you and your pets.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Jan. 2026
In its short lifespan, the Outback Wilderness done its part to drag that toward the middle.
—Byron Hurd, The Drive, 22 Jan. 2026
Adjusting all three behaviors at the same time was shown to have the strongest benefit, contributing to about a nine-year increase in lifespan, according to the findings.
—Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 21 Jan. 2026
The maternal mortality rate in Black women is over three times higher than the rate for white women, showcasing that racial disparities in health care persist across the reproductive lifespan.
—Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 21 Jan. 2026
The average lifespan of red pandas in captivity being around 13, veterinarians say.
—Cecilio Padilla, CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Chuck Brooks, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Looking for something that will last, and delight, longer than a typical bouquet’s lifespan?
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 22 Jan. 2026
The finding that people who didn’t have children also aged faster and had shorter lifespans was more surprising, Hukkanen says.
—K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 22 Jan. 2026
If possible, schedule a professional carpet cleaning once or twice a year to extend the lifespan of your carpets and keep the air in your home healthier for you and your pets.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Jan. 2026
In its short lifespan, the Outback Wilderness done its part to drag that toward the middle.
—Byron Hurd, The Drive, 22 Jan. 2026
Adjusting all three behaviors at the same time was shown to have the strongest benefit, contributing to about a nine-year increase in lifespan, according to the findings.
—Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 21 Jan. 2026
The maternal mortality rate in Black women is over three times higher than the rate for white women, showcasing that racial disparities in health care persist across the reproductive lifespan.
—Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 21 Jan. 2026
The average lifespan of red pandas in captivity being around 13, veterinarians say.
—Cecilio Padilla, CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lifespan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lifespan. Accessed 23 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
lifespan
noun
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
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