expectancy
noun
ex·pec·tan·cy
ik-ˈspek-tən(t)-sē 
plural expectancies
1
2
a
: something expected
their belief led to an expectancy
b
: the expected amount (as of the number of years of life) based on statistical probability
life expectancy
Synonyms
Examples of expectancy in a Sentence
that feeling of optimistic expectancy that fills theatergoers as they wait for the curtain to rise
Recent Examples on the Web
Lyapunov exponent and survival time expectancy Jake Parks is a freelance writer and editor who specializes in covering science news.
—
Jake Parks, Discover Magazine, 17 Sep. 2024
Michigan ranks 30th out of the 50 states for life expectancy, a new analysis shows.
—Annalise Frank, Axios, 3 Sep. 2024
The group now looks at medal expectancy in each sport, performance in international events over the past five or six years, current athletes and those in development, and how the Olympic program is changing.
—Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 26 July 2024
Afghanistan was much poorer when the United States invaded than Bosnia was at the time of the NATO intervention: adult life expectancy was about 48, one in seven children died before the age of five, and most men (and almost all women) were unable to read or write.
—Rory Stewart, Foreign Affairs, 8 Oct. 2021
See all Example Sentences for expectancy 
Jake Parks, Discover Magazine, 17 Sep. 2024
Michigan ranks 30th out of the 50 states for life expectancy, a new analysis shows.
—Annalise Frank, Axios, 3 Sep. 2024
The group now looks at medal expectancy in each sport, performance in international events over the past five or six years, current athletes and those in development, and how the Olympic program is changing.
—Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 26 July 2024
Afghanistan was much poorer when the United States invaded than Bosnia was at the time of the NATO intervention: adult life expectancy was about 48, one in seven children died before the age of five, and most men (and almost all women) were unable to read or write.
—Rory Stewart, Foreign Affairs, 8 Oct. 2021
See all Example Sentences for expectancy
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'expectancy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near expectancy
Cite this Entry
“Expectancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/expectancy. Accessed 29 Sep. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
expectancy
noun
ex·pec·tan·cy
-ˈspek-tən-sē
plural expectancies
: the expected amount (as of the number of years of life) based on statistical probability see life expectancy
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