Dictionary.com
definitions
  • synonyms

life span

See more synonyms for life span on Thesaurus.com
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.
Show More

Origin of life span

First recorded in 1915–20
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for life span

Historical Examples

  • He acquired all sorts of magic powers by means of which he extended his life-span.

    The Chinese Fairy Book

    Various

  • As to the life-span itself there is reason to suppose that it is meant to be more regular than man allows it to become.

  • That's where the men astern would find use for the life-span.

  • Now, of course, shortened working hours and medical advances have equalized the life-span.

    This Crowded Earth

    Robert Bloch

British Dictionary definitions for life span

life span

noun
  1. the period of time during which a human being, animal, machine, etc, may be expected to live or function under normal conditions
Show More
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
life span in Medicine

life span

n.
  1. A lifetime.
  2. The average or maximum length of time an organism, a material, or an object can be expected to survive or last.
Show More
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.