expectancy
Americannoun
plural
expectancies-
the quality or state of expecting; expectation; anticipatory belief or desire.
-
the state of being expected.
-
an object of expectation; something expected.
noun
-
something expected, esp on the basis of a norm or average
his life expectancy was 30 years
-
anticipation; expectation
-
the prospect of a future interest or possession, esp in property
an estate in expectancy
Etymology
Origin of expectancy
From the Medieval Latin word ex(s)pectantia, dating back to 1590–1600. See expectant, -ancy
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.
It is incurable, with a median life expectancy of 12 to 18 months—in other words, a death sentence.
From Barron's • Mar. 12, 2026
One problem, as Fronstin puts it, is that “average” life expectancy doesn’t really help any individual very much — half of people will live longer than the average, and some will live much longer.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 5, 2026
It's a relatively safe country, globally famous for its stunning landscapes, and people living there enjoy a high life expectancy.
From BBC • Mar. 2, 2026
Life expectancy increased to 77 years in 2023 from 62 in 1986, according to the World Bank.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 1, 2026
Hence the greatly increased life expectancy brought by modern medicine may have contributed to the recently accelerating pace of invention.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
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.