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

Unlike oil, there are no strategic fertilizer reserves, partly because they have a relatively short life span of about three to five months.

From Barron's

If a disease is particularly rare or has a short life span, there isn’t much ‘water’ going into the tub, and there is a big drain on the other side.

From Barron's

Some people like to think of their benefits in terms of their overall life span – if you do not expect to be claiming for 30 or more years, claiming early with a lower monthly benefit is less likely to hurt so much.

From MarketWatch

They’re pretty to look at, but they have a limited life span.

From Barron's

IBM has pivoted several times in its life span.

From Barron's