expectancy
Americannoun
plural
expectancies-
the quality or state of expecting; expectation; anticipatory belief or desire.
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the state of being expected.
-
an object of expectation; something expected.
noun
-
something expected, esp on the basis of a norm or average
his life expectancy was 30 years
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anticipation; expectation
-
the prospect of a future interest or possession, esp in property
an estate in expectancy
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."
Vocabulary lists containing expectancy
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 expectancy at birth for 2022 and 2024 was 83.2 years- higher than the average of 80 across the countries surveyed.
From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026
It is incurable, with a median life expectancy of 12 to 18 months—in other words, a death sentence.
From Barron's • Mar. 12, 2026
One problem, as Fronstin puts it, is that “average” life expectancy doesn’t really help any individual very much — half of people will live longer than the average, and some will live much longer.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 5, 2026
If untreated, acromegaly can lead to serious health problems and shorten life expectancy by about 10 years.
From Science Daily • Mar. 4, 2026
“There’s nothing funny about the life expectancy of male peasants, Princess,” Jack said, trying hard not to smile.
From "Half Upon a Time" by James Riley
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.
