lifespan

noun

variants also life span
Definition of lifespannext
as in duration
the period during which something exists, lasts, or is in progress I saw no need to pay more for a better-built computer that would just grow obsolete before the end of its lifespan

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of lifespan Viral sit-to-stand and other mobility tests measure strength, balance, fall risk; helpful clues on how the body is aging but not definitive predictions of lifespan. — Devi Shastri, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026 This means those daily dishwasher runs can shorten the lifespan of your dishwasher and its internal components over time. — Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 25 Aug. 2026 The average working lifespan of a police canine is approximately seven to eight years, Bettineschi said. — Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 25 Aug. 2026 In the wild, clouded leopards have an average lifespan of 11 to 13 years, while their average captive lifespan is 11 to 15 years. — Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lifespan
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lifespan
  1. duration
  2. life
  3. lifetime
  4. time
Noun
  • Similarly, Olmsted of Morningstar noted that the duration investors would find in the core bond space – which also tends to be intermediate term – also works as a diversifier.
    — Darla Mercado, CFP®, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Chang believes that the tri-layer approach could pave the way for longer-range EVs and safer batteries, and support flexible electronics, wearable devices, and long-duration grid storage.
    — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of duration
Noun
  • For the traditional Telugu Hindu ceremony, their priest translated Sanskrit to English in real time, and the mandap was designed as a circle to represent how life flows into itself for eternity.
    — Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Your stories are a great reminder of what sports teaches high school students about life.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of life
Noun
  • By most accounts, Dolly composed some 3,000 songs over her lifetime.
    — Martha Ackmann, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The chances of Aschenbrenner being one of the wealthy elites who could afford to buy a galaxy, however, are now looking as remote as the possibility that humankind could ever conquer one within his lifetime.
    — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of lifetime
Noun
  • Crump also made a Facebook post about the Blytheville incident on Saturday, which had been shared more than 4,000 times as of Sunday afternoon.
    — Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 31 Aug. 2026
  • For example, expressing appreciation for past help or thanking the doctor for their time was more helpful than emphasizing sadness or frustration.
    — Paul Hsieh, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of time

Browse Nearby Words

lifers
lifespan
life spans
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lifespan.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lifespan. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of dissonant

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All