noun
lifespan
LYF-span
noun
1
The length of time an organism typically lives.
"The average human lifespan has increased over the last century."
"A housefly has a lifespan of just a few weeks."
2
The length of time something remains useful, valid, or in existence.
"The phone's battery has a lifespan of about three years."
How to Use Lifespan
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHow long something lives or lasts, from beginning to end.
Common pairings
average lifespan
extend the lifespan
shorten the lifespan
Word Forms
lifespans plural
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Etymology
A compound of life + span, describing the "span" or stretch of time a life or object lasts.