longevity

noun

lon·gev·i·ty | \län-ˈje-və-tē,

lȯn-\

Definition of longevity

1a : a long duration of individual life The members of that family are noted for their longevity.

b : length of life a study of longevity

2 : long continuance : permanence, durability longevity in office is also an asset— Spencer Parratt

Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about longevity

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Did You Know?

As living conditions improve and the science of medicine advances, the longevity of the average American has increased greatly, from about 45 years in 1900 to over 75 years today. But the most impressive human longevity is nothing compared to the 400-year lifespan of an ocean clam found near Iceland, or the 5,000-year lifespan of the bristlecone pine, a tree found in the western U.S. We may use longevity to talk not only about actual lives but also of the useful "life" of things: the life of your car's tires or the shingles on your roof, for example.

Examples of longevity in a Sentence

His longevity was remarkable considering he had been so sick when he was a child. Better medical treatment has led to greater longevity. a study of human longevity The longevity of a car's tires depends on how the car is driven. They're trying to increase the product's longevity.

Recent Examples on the Web

The surge in convertible-debt issuance worries some investors, however, because such issuance soared ahead of the financial crisis, and many have already grown concerned about the longevity of the bull market. — Daniel Kruger, WSJ, "Rising Rates Revitalize Convertible-Bond Sales," 10 Dec. 2018 The steep angle was great for pictures, but not so much for tourist safety or the longevity of the monument. — Liz Stinson, Curbed, "The Leaning Tower of Pisa has straightened its posture a bit," 27 Nov. 2018 Critics, with iFixit among the most vocal, have knocked Apple in the past for how its environmental and reusability pledges square with the reality of its repair practices and the longevity of its devices. — Nick Statt, The Verge, "Apple confirms its T2 security chip blocks some third-party repairs of new Macs," 12 Nov. 2018 López Obrador's supporters attributed his win to the longevity and personal charisma of a candidate who is running in his third consecutive election and has campaigned in every municipality in the country. — Joshua Partlow, Anchorage Daily News, "Andrés Manuel López Obrador wins Mexican presidential race," 2 July 2018 López Obrador’s supporters attributed his victory to the longevity and personal charisma of a candidate who was running in his third consecutive presidential election and has campaigned in every municipality in the country. — Kevin Sieff, Washington Post, "López Obrador, a leftist, wins sweeping mandate in Mexican presidential election," 2 July 2018 Kerogen is sometimes found with sulfur, which helps preserve it across billions of years; the Curiosity scientists think the sulfur compounds in their samples also explain the longevity of the Mars compounds. — Paul Voosen, Science | AAAS, "NASA rover hits organic pay dirt on Mars," 7 June 2018 Salah’s shorter term success over the past season cannot be compared to the longevity of success which Ronaldo has enjoyed since his move to Madrid in 2009, following a hugely successful breakthrough spell at Manchester United. — SI.com, "Zinedine Zidane Insists He Would Not Swap Cristiano Ronaldo for Mohamed Salah Ahead of UCL Final," 23 May 2018 One of the prime reasons some investors are cautious is simply the longevity of the current bull market, which by some measures in August became the longest in history. — Corrie Driebusch, WSJ, "U.S. Stocks Open Fourth Quarter Near Record Highs but Face Hurdles," 30 Sep. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'longevity.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.