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
That figure aligns with expectations for a typical vehicle lifespan and suggests that hybrid batteries remain reliable for many years of daily use.
—
Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 10 Nov. 2025
Items like mascara and eyeliner have shorter lifespans due to their potential for bacteria, while blush, foundation, and concealer might be okay for more prolonged use.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 8 Nov. 2025
The lifespan of a small breed dog is typically longer than their larger counterparts—up to about 16 years, so they are not considered seniors until age 12 usually.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
But the crash does highlight how planes, can have a much longer long lifespan than the average flyer realizes.
—Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2025
Throughout its lifespan, the station has served as a test bed for scientific research in microgravity and has in years past opened itself up to private commercial missions.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 4 Nov. 2025
Today, lifespans have increased threefold.
—Dominique Mosbergen, Time, 31 Oct. 2025
New Balance’s influential sneaker loafer is now more than a year into its lifespan, and in the time since its debut many other brands have followed suit with their own sporty and smart hybrids.
—Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 31 Oct. 2025
Replacing an aging battery can dramatically improve performance and lifespan, often more than any software tweak.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 10 Nov. 2025
Items like mascara and eyeliner have shorter lifespans due to their potential for bacteria, while blush, foundation, and concealer might be okay for more prolonged use.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 8 Nov. 2025
The lifespan of a small breed dog is typically longer than their larger counterparts—up to about 16 years, so they are not considered seniors until age 12 usually.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
But the crash does highlight how planes, can have a much longer long lifespan than the average flyer realizes.
—Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2025
Throughout its lifespan, the station has served as a test bed for scientific research in microgravity and has in years past opened itself up to private commercial missions.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 4 Nov. 2025
Today, lifespans have increased threefold.
—Dominique Mosbergen, Time, 31 Oct. 2025
New Balance’s influential sneaker loafer is now more than a year into its lifespan, and in the time since its debut many other brands have followed suit with their own sporty and smart hybrids.
—Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 31 Oct. 2025
Replacing an aging battery can dramatically improve performance and lifespan, often more than any software tweak.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lifespan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lifespan. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share