lifespan

variants also life span
Definition of lifespannext
as in duration
the period during which something exists, lasts, or is in progress I saw no need to pay more for a better-built computer that would just grow obsolete before the end of its lifespan

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of lifespan The excellent active noise-cancellation feature uses batteries with an 80-hour lifespan. Bestreviews, Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2026 The original Wylfa power station, once Britain’s oldest nuclear plant, concluded 44 years of operations in 2015, having reached the end of its natural lifespan. Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 14 Apr. 2026 Even small hail impacts can weaken protective layers, shorten a roof’s lifespan, and create vulnerabilities that may not surface until months later. Ethan Stone, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2026 The average lifespan of this diminutive Peruvian mammal, in captivity, is 25 years. Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 13 Apr. 2026 That means Fatou has nearly doubled the lifespan of her wild counterparts — a fact that might spark big questions from curious kids about how animals age and why care makes such a difference. Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 13 Apr. 2026 Five Generations and Counting Fatou’s legacy extends well beyond her own remarkable lifespan. Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 13 Apr. 2026 This trusty and intelligent breed of dog has a lifespan between 12 to 15 years. Katelyn Chef, Martha Stewart, 12 Apr. 2026 To further maximize the lifespan, Brown advises refreshing the water every other day, giving the stems a tiny trim each time, and keeping the display out of direct sunlight. Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 11 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lifespan
Noun
  • The University of Miami says there is an interest in larger trials to confirm the findings, and to determine the optimal timing and duration of the GLP-1 therapy.
    CBS Miami Team, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026
  • The effects on abuse survivors differ in their intensity, unpredictability and duration.
    Lynn DeWoskin Covarrubias, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • If convicted as charged, Cruz faces up to life in state prison.
    Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026
  • Levin, typically springy, glowered as Wolf told them about how the shutdown had devastated her life.
    Paula Mejía, New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • After the plane spent a lifetime submerged in teal waters, a local heritage group organized a salvage project to recover the rare Japanese aircraft.
    Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 11 Apr. 2026
  • Mastectomies are lifesaving surgeries that remove a patient’s breasts to treat breast cancer, which affects 1 in 8 American women over their lifetimes, according to the American Cancer Society.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 11 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • However, this time around, Harry, 41, and Meghan, 44, opted to fly business class on Qantas, surprising some of their fellow fliers on the flight from Los Angeles to Melbourne.
    Helen Murphy, PEOPLE, 14 Apr. 2026
  • At the same time, the nation’s weapons manufacturers—part of what is known inside the Beltway as the defense-industrial base, or DIB—have grown cautious after years of fast-shifting congressional priorities.
    Garrett M. Graff, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Lifespan.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lifespan. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.

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