lifetime

American  

[lahyf-tahym] / ˈlaɪfˌtaɪm /

noun

1. the time that the life of someone or something continues; the term of a life.

   peace within our lifetime.

2. Physics. mean life.

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adjective

1. for the duration of a person's life.

   He has a lifetime membership in the organization.

lifetime British  

/ ˈlaɪfˌtaɪm /

noun

1. 1. the length of time a person or animal is alive

   2. ( as modifier )

      a lifetime supply

2. the length of time that something functions, is useful, etc

3. physics the average time of existence of an unstable or reactive entity, such as a nucleus, excited state, elementary particle, etc; mean life

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Etymology

Origin of lifetime

First recorded in 1175–1225, lifetime is from the Middle English word liftime. See life, time

Example Sentences

But even with that larger nest egg, they still retire later and experience lower lifetime welfare because — as noted above — they must manage longevity and market risk themselves.

From MarketWatch

His colours were worn by the Scotland national team on nine occasions over the course of his lifetime.

From BBC

She added: "This is going to last her a lifetime and if it's not well managed, she can have long lasting adverse effects from infertility to other diseases, such as higher risk of cancer."

From BBC

There are the legitimate fans looking for a keepsake to cherish for a lifetime, but also professional vendors building up a bank of merchandise to be sold online.

From BBC

The couple had been on a "once in a lifetime" motorbike journey from Europe to Australia and had only intended to be in Iran for a few days.

From BBC

Related Words

• career
• life
• period