life expectancy

noun

: the average lifespan of an individual

Examples of life expectancy in a Sentence

improvements in diet that have resulted in greater life expectancy for many people calculating the life expectancies of different social groups
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Still, life expectancy overall has increased across eastern sub-Saharan Africa, more than in any other region in recent decades, largely due to efforts in addressing TB and other prominent diseases. Erika Page, The Christian Science Monitor, 4 Nov. 2024 Of course rural workers, whose real wages and life expectancies keep falling, are not mourning the death of the free-market consensus. Andrew Marantz, The New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2024 From 65 years in 1965, life expectancy in Singapore has risen to 83.74 years in 2023, becoming the eighth highest in the world. Y-Jean Mun-Delsalle, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024 In a recent appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast, Trump held up a chart comparing life expectancy and health expenditures around the world, with the US an obvious negative outlier on both metrics. Meg Tirrell, CNN, 30 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for life expectancy 

Word History

First Known Use

1848, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of life expectancy was in 1848

Dictionary Entries Near life expectancy

Cite this Entry

“Life expectancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/life%20expectancy. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

life expectancy

noun
: the number of years that an individual or group of a certain age can expect to live on the average based on experience in the past for individuals or groups of the same kind

Medical Definition

life expectancy

noun
: an expected number of years of life based on statistical probability

Legal Definition

life expectancy

noun
: the average life span of an individual

More from Merriam-Webster on life expectancy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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