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Lifespan vs Expectancy - What's the difference?

lifespan | expectancy |

As nouns the difference between lifespan and expectancy

is that lifespan is the length of time for which an organism lives while expectancy is expectation or anticipation; the state of expecting something.

lifespan

English

Alternative forms

* life span

Noun

(wikipedia lifespan) (en noun)
  • The length of time for which an organism lives.
  • *{{quote-magazine, year=2012, month=March-April
    • , author=Anna Lena Phillips , title=Sneaky Silk Moths , volume=100, issue=2, page=172 , magazine=(American Scientist) citation , passage=Last spring, the periodical cicadas emerged across eastern North America. Their vast numbers and short above-ground life spans inspired awe and irritation in humans—and made for good meals for birds and small mammals.}}
    Some clams have lifespans far longer than those of human beings.
  • (by extension)  The length of time for which something exists or is current or valid.
  • * 2002 , Luis M Camarinha-Matos, Collaborative business ecosystems and virtual enterprises
    • The virtual enterprise forum developed several "classical" management functions for which resources were available throughout its lifespan .

    Synonyms

    * lifetime

    expectancy

    English

    Noun

    (expectancies)
  • expectation or anticipation; the state of expecting something
    • (Milton)
  • the state of being expected
  • something expected or awaited
  • * Shakespeare
    • The expectancy and rose of the fair state.

    Synonyms

    * expectingness

    Derived terms

    * life expectancy