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
Synonyms
Examples of lifespan in a Sentence
the average lifespan of house cats
increase the human lifespan
Recent Examples on the Web
The problem does not reduce lifespan except in the rare cases of certain heart defects.
—
Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 8 Aug. 2024
These plants will last longer than two years, although their lifespans can be much greater than that.
—Katherine McLaughlin, Architectural Digest, 7 Aug. 2024
These opportunities to get a work developed in a professional setting, especially a festival sponsored by one of the largest regional theaters in the Bay Area, is critical to a play’s lifespan.
—David John Chávez, The Mercury News, 6 Aug. 2024
Quite the opposite: studies suggest that oral health is associated with everything from heart health to lifespan, even if many people don’t realize it.
—Jamie Ducharme, TIME, 5 Aug. 2024
Orbiting a red dwarf star, which typically has a longer lifespan than larger stars like our Sun, Kepler-186f might benefit from stable conditions for billions of years, giving life more time to potentially develop.
—Anna Nordseth, Discover Magazine, 31 July 2024
Photograph: Stefano Guidi/Getty Images The new athletics track measures 17,000 square meters, cost approximately €3 million, and has a lifespan of 10 years.
—Jorge Garay, WIRED, 30 July 2024
Understanding Earwigs Over the course of its lifespan of about seven months, the female earwig can lay 50 eggs in a tunnel in the top few inches of soil.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 31 July 2024
Deals on Woot have a very short lifespan and only last for a limited time or as soon as a product sells out (usually the latter).
—Gabriela Vatu, PCMAG, 29 July 2024
Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 8 Aug. 2024
These plants will last longer than two years, although their lifespans can be much greater than that.
—Katherine McLaughlin, Architectural Digest, 7 Aug. 2024
These opportunities to get a work developed in a professional setting, especially a festival sponsored by one of the largest regional theaters in the Bay Area, is critical to a play’s lifespan.
—David John Chávez, The Mercury News, 6 Aug. 2024
Quite the opposite: studies suggest that oral health is associated with everything from heart health to lifespan, even if many people don’t realize it.
—Jamie Ducharme, TIME, 5 Aug. 2024
Orbiting a red dwarf star, which typically has a longer lifespan than larger stars like our Sun, Kepler-186f might benefit from stable conditions for billions of years, giving life more time to potentially develop.
—Anna Nordseth, Discover Magazine, 31 July 2024
Photograph: Stefano Guidi/Getty Images The new athletics track measures 17,000 square meters, cost approximately €3 million, and has a lifespan of 10 years.
—Jorge Garay, WIRED, 30 July 2024
Understanding Earwigs Over the course of its lifespan of about seven months, the female earwig can lay 50 eggs in a tunnel in the top few inches of soil.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 31 July 2024
Deals on Woot have a very short lifespan and only last for a limited time or as soon as a product sells out (usually the latter).
—Gabriela Vatu, PCMAG, 29 July 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lifespan.' 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 lifespan
Cite this Entry
“Lifespan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lifespan. Accessed 18 Aug. 2024.
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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