life span
- the longest period over which the life of any organism or species may extend, according to the available biological knowledge concerning it.
- the longevity of an individual.
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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 lifespan
Contemporary Examples
Mortality rates there were “at least 10.7 percent to 16.7 percent over its 35-year lifespan.”
Imagine downloading a new wetware patch to “fix” an illness, or programming your genes to radically extend your lifespan.
The Paleo diet is dangerous because it permits red meat, which clogs our arteries and shortens our lifespan.
Parkhomenko estimates a lifespan of 14 to 16 months for R4H.
If this telling is correct, whatever else Chavismo is, it's not sustainable beyond the lifespan of Chavez himself.
Historical Examples
And what the hell, the doctors are increasing our lifespan every day with new drugs and things, aren't they?
The SlizzersJerome Bixby
life span
- 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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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
Word Origin and History for lifespan
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
life span
- A lifetime.
- The average or maximum length of time an organism, a material, or an object can be expected to survive or last.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.