Definition of LONGEVITY

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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 lackluster results may fuel worries about the Switch console’s longevity, especially in a year when Microsoft Corp. and Sony Corp. are preparing to launch new machines for the holidays. — Pavel Alpeyev, Bloomberg.com, "Nintendo Drops Most Since April After Profit Misses Estimates," 15 May 2020 Beyond the show’s longevity, Super Marcato Bros. is noteworthy because of the journey its hosts have taken from simply appreciating video game music to becoming game-music composers themselves. — Mara Katz, Ars Technica, "Music theory meets game theory in 400+ episodes of a great game-music podcast," 26 Apr. 2020 In an age of rapidly increasing longevity, the queen’s hand has been busy. — Gerard Baker, WSJ, "A Man for All Seasons at 100," 21 Feb. 2020 Made for impact, not longevity, these products have short life spans. — Washington Post, "Do you know what’s happening to your clothing donations?," 28 Jan. 2020 To ensure the Skyline's longevity, the owners have made numerous upgrades over the past decade, both to programming and the grounds. — Domenica Bongiovanni, Indianapolis Star, "Shelbyville's drive-in beat the odds to survive. What's next? It needs a second screen.," 16 Jan. 2020 Unlicensed contractors working in the city of Louisville pose an incredible threat to the safety, longevity, and value of our properties, commercial buildings, and future development projects. — Darcy Costello, The Courier-Journal, "Get to know the dozens of candidates running for Louisville Metro Council in 2020," 10 Jan. 2020 Sunday’s meeting is proof of the longevity of Koch, in his 14th season, as well as the quickness in which Taylor, 36, has risen up the coaching ranks. — Daniel Oyefusi, baltimoresun.com, "Nebraska teammates Sam Koch, Zac Taylor reunite in Ravens-Bengals matchup," 10 Oct. 2019 Of course, the biggest trick is making these changes while still being confident in the longevity of the battery pack and powertrain. — Roberto Baldwin, Car and Driver, "Tesla Claims More Power for Model S, X, Plus Cheetah Launch Mode," 11 Apr. 2020

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.