longevity
Americannoun
-
a long individual life; great duration of individual life.
Our family is known for its longevity.
-
the length or duration of life.
research in human longevity.
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length of service, tenure, etc.; seniority.
promotions based on longevity.
noun
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long life
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relatively long duration of employment, service, etc
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of longevity
From the Latin word longaevitās, dating back to 1605–15. See longevous, -ity
Explanation
Something with longevity has the ability to last for a long time. While tortoises are not known for their quickness, their longevity is amazing. Just ask the Hare. At the root of longevity is the word long. So when you see longevity, think “a long time." In fact, this word has some serious longevity, since it's been around since the 1600s. Longevity is most commonly used to describe the length of one’s lifetime, but it can also mean a long duration, such as one’s longevity working for a certain company for an extended period of time.
Vocabulary lists containing longevity
100 Top "SAT" Words
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List 1
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Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I've Been to the Mountaintop" (1968)
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
People who live to age 100 and beyond often owe their exceptional longevity to a mix of protective genes and healthy habits.
From Science Daily • Jul. 5, 2026
As it turns out, America’s track record isn’t as long as some, but the nature of its longevity is much simpler to define than most.
From Slate • Jul. 4, 2026
That’s hardly surprising, since annuities protect annuitants from so-called longevity risk — outliving your money.
From MarketWatch • Jul. 2, 2026
He also praised Minogue's longevity and willingness to evolve musically throughout her career.
From BBC • Jul. 2, 2026
“Through investigating Tua’s secrets,” he said, referring to his pet by name, “humans will learn the key to longevity and better understand the evolution of life on earth.”
From "Turtles All the Way Down" by John Green
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
