life expectancy — the average period that a person may expect to live
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: the average period that a person may expect to live
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈlaɪf ɪkˈspektənsi/
Example Sentences
- My grandmother beat all life expectancy predictions and lived to 103 by eating chocolate daily.
- The discovery of antibiotics dramatically increased human life expectancy in the 20th century.
- According to statistics, owning a cat can increase your life expectancy, but my cat seems determined to prove otherwise.
life expectancy
NOUN[/ˈlaɪf ɪkˈspektənsi/]
the average period that a person may expect to live
Modern medicine keeps raising life expectancy, letting grandparents meet great-grandchildren.
Choose health over fancy for better life expectancy!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Life derives from Old English 'līf', meaning the condition of living or animate existence. Expectancy originates from Latin 'expectare' (to await, look for), combining ex- (out) and spectare (to look), which evolved into the suffix '-ancy' denoting a state or quality. The compound 'life expectancy' emerged in the 19th century as a statistical measure of anticipated lifespan.
Breakdown
Life (Old English 'līf', animate existence) + expectancy (Latin 'expectare', to await; ex- out + spectare to look + -ancy denoting state). Together: the anticipated duration of remaining life.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My grandmother beat all life expectancy predictions and lived to 103 by eating chocolate daily.”
“The discovery of antibiotics dramatically increased human life expectancy in the 20th century.”
“According to statistics, owning a cat can increase your life expectancy, but my cat seems determined to prove otherwise.”
“Exercise and a healthy diet are key factors in improving life expectancy.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
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