expectancy

American  

[ik-spek-tuhn-see] / ɪkˈspɛk tən si /

Also expectance

noun

expectancies plural

1. the quality or state of expecting; expectation; anticipatory belief or desire.

2. the state of being expected.

3. an object of expectation; something expected.

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expectancy British  

/ ɪkˈspɛktənsɪ /

noun

1. something expected, esp on the basis of a norm or average

   his life expectancy was 30 years

2. anticipation; expectation

3. the prospect of a future interest or possession, esp in property

   an estate in expectancy

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• expectancies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of expectancy

From the Medieval Latin word ex(s)pectantia, dating back to 1590–1600. See expectant, -ancy

Explanation

Expectancy is the state of thinking (or hoping) that something will happen. You can sense the expectancy in the crowd just before your favorite band takes the stage. Use this word to talk about a sense of anticipation, like your little brother's expectancy every year on his birthday that someone will throw him a surprise party. It's also used to mean "an expected amount," especially in the context of life expectancy, or the average length of a person's life: "Typically, women have a longer life expectancy than men do." Expectancy is from expect, from a Latin root meaning "look for."

Example Sentences

Dr. Hirota has published 56 papers, and his work connects molecular biology with nutrition in pursuit of better health care solutions and longer healthy life expectancy.

From Science Daily • May 27, 2026

Here’s the good news: After declining for years due to “deaths of despair” and COVID-19, life expectancy in the U.S. has risen to 79 years, its highest level ever.

From MarketWatch • May 13, 2026

Declines in overdose fatalities have also contributed to a record high for life expectancy in the U.S., the federal government reported earlier this year.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 13, 2026

"One of the things that came out of that report was the particular impact around female health outcomes and female life expectancy and so we've now done a deep dive into those issues," Ashton says.

From BBC • May 11, 2026

Hence the greatly increased life expectancy brought by modern medicine may have contributed to the recently accelerating pace of invention.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond