lifespan
noun
life·span
ˈlīf-ˌspan 
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
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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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
Cite this Entry
“Lifespan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lifespan. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
life span
noun1
: 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
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