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

In 1983, Congress passed a law gradually raising the full retirement age from 65 to 67 to account for longer life expectancies and to help sustain Social Security funds. —Victoria E. Freile, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2025

For example, delaying CPP payments can result in higher payouts, which could be beneficial for those with longer life expectancies. —Francis Gingras Roy, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025

Even the alarming decline in life expectancy can be traced to how our modern environments and lifestyles are harming our cells. —Dr. Sharon Bergquist, TIME, 25 Mar. 2025

Several factors, including inequality, generosity, freedom, life expectancy and perceptions of corruption, all contribute to the rankings – but one question related to happiness is weighed heavily by researchers. —Andrea Margolis, Fox News, 23 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1848, in the meaning defined above

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