useful life

noun

: the amount of time during which something is in good enough condition to be used

the useful life of a satellite

Examples of useful life in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Their reuse also creates opportunities to reduce demand for conventional construction inputs, extending the useful life of materials originally built to produce clean electricity. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 13 Oct. 2026

Whether windows have been damaged by a recent storm or have simply reached the end of their useful life, a coordinated replacement project can improve comfort, energy efficiency and curb appeal while helping homeowners prepare for future weather. — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2026

More concretely, Mazzolai would like to incorporate the concept of a life cycle into the design of robots, so that at the end of their useful life these machines can be reused, recycled, or even biodegraded. — IEEE Spectrum, 22 Sep. 2026

Steering away from East Antioch’s recommended closure East Antioch Elementary originally faced closure due to declining enrollment — roughly 284 students — and a building that’s near the end of its useful life. — Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 15 Sep. 2026

Rhymes for useful life

• afterlife
• pocketknife
• alewife
• birdlife
• folklife
• housewife
• jackknife
• midlife
• midwife
• nightlife
• penknife
• wildlife

Legal Definition

useful life

noun

use·​ful life

: an estimated amount of time during which an asset or facility will yield income or be useful see also depreciation sense 1