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.

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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

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Etymology

Origin of life span

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

In experiments, researchers led by study leader Jinghui Luo, in the Center for Life Sciences at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI, have discovered that this substance is capable of extending the life span of small nematode worms, improving their mobility in old age, and strengthening the powerhouses of their cells - the mitochondria.

From Science Daily

Not even six months into its life span, Merit Street was already looking chaotic behind the scenes and earning a less-than-stellar reputation: The notoriously conservative Sinclair Broadcasting Group soon axed the Tennis Channel’s longtime chairman and CEO, Ken Solomon, explicitly because of his simultaneous involvement with Merit Street as board member and adviser.

From Slate

These burrow-dwelling rats have a maximum life span of nearly 40 years, making them world's the longest-lived rodent.

From BBC

Technological advances may turn back aging, extending the average life span by at least a decade.

From The Wall Street Journal

Research from the University of Kansas’ Life Span Institute found that parents rated AI-generated text as more credible, moral and trustworthy than “expert-generated content,” even as researchers found inaccurate information was being given to the parents regarding children’s health.

From Salon