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
Assuming this works, the even better news is that the reprocessing takes materials that have a dangerously radioactive lifespan of 10,000 years down to material that is only unsafe for a few hundred years.
—
John Koetsier, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
This helps reduce the tiny flaws in the material that can hinder performance and shorten a cell’s lifespan.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2025
The same forces that push a bullet into a body also push blood pressure higher and shorten lifespans.
—Trymaine Lee, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Aug. 2025
This is the healthspan-lifespan gap, or the difference between healthy years and total years lived.
—Health Editorial Team, Health, 26 Aug. 2025
In a nutshell, the idea is that when a non-load-bearing interior element such as a wall, flooring panel or other item reaches the end of its lifespan, it simply gets pulled out and replaced with a fresh one.
—New Atlas, 25 Aug. 2025
While real veneers can cost more than $1,000 per tooth, the report noted Martinez allegedly charged about $3,000 for the entire set, promising a lifespan of five to seven years.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2025
Nelson’s longevity highlights the differences in lifespan between captive and wild frogs.
—Real-Time News Team, Miami Herald, 22 Aug. 2025
Unlike lifespan, which is easy to calculate, or healthspan, which is increasingly studied, brainspan is still emerging as a way to capture one of the most meaningful aspects of aging—how well our minds keep up as our bodies grow older.
—Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 22 Aug. 2025
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John Koetsier, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
This helps reduce the tiny flaws in the material that can hinder performance and shorten a cell’s lifespan.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2025
The same forces that push a bullet into a body also push blood pressure higher and shorten lifespans.
—Trymaine Lee, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Aug. 2025
This is the healthspan-lifespan gap, or the difference between healthy years and total years lived.
—Health Editorial Team, Health, 26 Aug. 2025
In a nutshell, the idea is that when a non-load-bearing interior element such as a wall, flooring panel or other item reaches the end of its lifespan, it simply gets pulled out and replaced with a fresh one.
—New Atlas, 25 Aug. 2025
While real veneers can cost more than $1,000 per tooth, the report noted Martinez allegedly charged about $3,000 for the entire set, promising a lifespan of five to seven years.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2025
Nelson’s longevity highlights the differences in lifespan between captive and wild frogs.
—Real-Time News Team, Miami Herald, 22 Aug. 2025
Unlike lifespan, which is easy to calculate, or healthspan, which is increasingly studied, brainspan is still emerging as a way to capture one of the most meaningful aspects of aging—how well our minds keep up as our bodies grow older.
—Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 22 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lifespan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lifespan. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
life span
noun1
: 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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