expectancy

[ ik-spek-tuhn-see ]
See synonyms for expectancy on Thesaurus.com
noun,plural ex·pect·an·cies.
  1. the quality or state of expecting; expectation; anticipatory belief or desire.

  2. the state of being expected.

  1. an object of expectation; something expected.

Origin of expectancy

1
From the Medieval Latin word ex(s)pectantia, dating back to 1590–1600. See expectant, -ancy
  • Also ex·pect·ance .

Words that may be confused with expectancy

Words Nearby expectancy

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use expectancy in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for expectancy

expectancy

expectance

/ (ɪkˈspɛktənsɪ) /


noun
  1. something expected, esp on the basis of a norm or average: his life expectancy was 30 years

  2. anticipation; expectation

  1. the prospect of a future interest or possession, esp in property: an estate in expectancy

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