longevity

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noun lon·gev·i·ty \ län-ˈje-və-tē , lȯn- \

Definition of longevity

1 a :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

See longevity defined for English-language learners

See longevity defined for kids

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 of longevity from the Web

That longevity, and his sheer body of work in films and television, are starkly at odds with his small list of laurels.

— neil genzlinger, New York Times, "For Jerry Lewis, Few Statuettes but Lots of Influence," 20 Aug. 2017
The longevity and the twists and turns of the plot are two clues about why director Leigh Selting eagerly agreed to lead a new run of the play Aug. 10-20 at Dunes Summer Theatre in Michigan City.

— philip potempa, Post-Tribune, "Dunes Theatre 'Mousetrap' brings mystery to audiences," 27 July 2017
Marriages made in Hollywood aren't exactly known for their longevity; lengthy unions between two stars tend to draw a lot of attention.

— samantha drake, Country Living, "Sam Elliott and Katharine Ross Are One of Hollywood's Most Enduring Couples," 13 July 2017
But McConnell believes most fervently in his own longevity, nothing else.

— sarah ellison, The Hive, "A Definitive Guide to the G.O.P. Insiders Enabling Donald Trump," 11 July 2017
Many services focused on nonessential items haven’t demonstrated longevity.

— paresh dave, Philly.com, "Loot Crate became the nation's fastest-growing startup, then it laid off over a quarter of its staff," 5 July 2017
This is not a shortcoming of the book, but an unfortunate byproduct of writing about athletes, who, throughout their careers, are often confronted with the kind of choice Achilles faced: self-annihilating glory or longevity?

— alex mcelroy, The Atlantic, "Stephen Florida Reveals the Dark Toll of Athletic Greatness," 4 July 2017
But a local election in Tokyo has put Mr. Abe’s longevity in doubt.

— motoko rich, New York Times, "Tokyo Voters’ Rebuke Signals Doubt About Shinzo Abe’s Future," 3 July 2017
Carrie Bienkowski, Peapod's chief marketing officer, said longevity has positioned the company to compete against newcomers.

— james briggs, USA TODAY, "To busy families, a heavenly text message: 'I'll be your shopper today'," 2 July 2017

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.

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.

Origin and Etymology of longevity

Late Latin longaevitas, from Latin longaevus long-lived, from longus long + aevum age — more at aye

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1569

See Words from the same year

Other Biology Terms

autochthonous, fecund, homunculus, phylogeny, substrate

LONGEVITY Defined for English Language Learners

longevity

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noun

Definition of longevity for English Language Learners

: long life : the fact of living for many years
: length of life
: the length of time that something or someone lasts or continues

Medical Dictionary

longevity

play

noun lon·gev·i·ty \ län-ˈjev-ət-ē, lȯn- \

medical Definition of longevity

plural longevities

1 :a long duration of individual life

attributed his longevity to daily exercise and a healthy diet

2 :length of life

studies in longevity

Learn More about longevity

Spanish Central: Translation of longevity Nglish: Translation of longevity for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of longevity for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about longevity

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longevity

Definition of longevity for English Language Learners

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longevity

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