life expectancy

American  

noun

1. the probable number of years remaining in the life of an individual or class of persons determined statistically, affected by such factors as heredity, physical condition, nutrition, and occupation.

---

life expectancy British  

noun

1. Also called: expectation of life.  the statistically determined average number of years of life remaining after a specified age for a given group of individuals

---

Etymology

Origin of life expectancy

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

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

In 2024, life expectancy at birth was 79 years for the total U.S. population, with female life expectancy of 81.4 and male life expectancy of 76.5, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

From MarketWatch

If untreated, acromegaly can lead to serious health problems and shorten life expectancy by about 10 years.

From Science Daily

It's a relatively safe country, globally famous for its stunning landscapes, and people living there enjoy a high life expectancy.

From BBC

Predictably, life expectancy shortened dramatically, so many of the warriors and their captains are teenagers and children.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• longevity