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Synonyms

life span

American  

noun

  1. the longest period over which the life of any organism or species may extend, according to the available biological knowledge concerning it.

  2. the longevity of an individual.

life span British  

noun

  1. the period of time during which a human being, animal, machine, etc, may be expected to live or function under normal conditions

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of life span

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Life span tends to increase with wealth, with a difference in the U.S. that has reached an average of 15 years between the richest and poorest men, and 10 years for women.

From New York Times • Apr. 11, 2016

Life span: Depends on the breed, ranging from seven to 10 years for a finch, up to 15 years for a parakeet to as much as 70 years for other parrots.

From Washington Post

Life span of guns charged to fire 25 miles or better is about three seconds, net.

From Time Magazine Archive

Life span: Eight to 16 years, depending on breed and size.

From Washington Post

Life span: The common goldfish can live up to 20 years with proper care.

From Washington Post

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.