lifespan

noun

life·​span ˈlīf-ˌspan How to pronounce lifespan (audio)
variants or less commonly life span
plural lifespans also life-spans
1
: the average length of life of a kind of organism or of a material object especially in a particular environment or under specified circumstances
2
: the duration of existence of an individual

Examples of lifespan in a Sentence

the average lifespan of house cats increase the human lifespan
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.
Yet, as history has shown, companies that rush tend to burn out—Fortune 500 companies have witnessed their lifespans shrink dramatically over recent decades, a sobering reminder of the costs of haste. Nell Derick Debevoise, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025 All of this should result in a much safer crossing and it is expected to have a lifespan of 100 years. Adam Williams, New Atlas, 23 Feb. 2025 In Krueger’s view, consumers are seeking out precise, timeless designs and comfortable, lightweight frames that have a long lifespan. Miles Socha, WWD, 19 Feb. 2025 In the people in the trial who did mount a response, the vaccine would give their cancer-fighting T cells an average lifespan of nearly eight years, the researchers estimated. Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC News, 19 Feb. 2025 For a show that has stood the test of time — watching other televisual behemoths rise and die out over the course of a lifespan that is only rivaled by the advent of the TV itself — SNL is perhaps always teetering beyond the present, either glazing over with nostalgia or darting to the days ahead. Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 15 Feb. 2025 Don’t let the fact that this wonderful sitcom had a short lifespan dissuade you from watching it, though! Fidel Martinez, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2025 Cleaning also ensures the mixer operates smoothly and prolongs its lifespan. Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 9 Feb. 2025 Big dogs like Great Danes and cane corso have the smallest lifespan, with an average of eight to 10 years. Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 14 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1831, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of lifespan was in 1831

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lifespan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lifespan. Accessed 6 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

life span

noun
: the average length of life of a living thing or of the persistence of a material object under specified circumstances or in a particular environment

Medical Definition

life span

noun
1
: the duration of existence of an individual
2
: the average length of life of a kind of organism or of a material object especially in a particular environment or under specified circumstances
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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