lifespan

• life span

From life +‎ span.

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈlaɪfˌspæn/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

lifespan (plural lifespans)

1. The length of time for which an organism lives.

   Synonym: lifetime

   Hypernyms: timespan < span

   Meronym: healthspan

   Coordinate term: healthspan

   Some clams have lifespans far longer than those of human beings.

   • 2011, Felix Hagan, “Just Like All The Rest”, in Dawn Breaks, the Monster Wakes...:

     What the devil happened to my year? Another little digit on my lifespan, what a bore.

   • 2012 March-April, Anna Lena Phillips, “Sneaky Silk Moths”, in American Scientist‎^[1], volume 100, number 2, page 172:

     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.

   • 2017, BioWare, Mass Effect: Andromeda, Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →OCLC, PC, scene: Nexus:

     Asari Cultural VI: Due to our lifespan-sometimes reaching 1,000 years of age-we are patient in our decisions, and prefer long-term solutions over short-term gains.

2. (by extension) The length of time for which something exists or is current, valid, or usable.

   Synonyms: lifetime, working life (of durable goods)

   • 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.

   • 2021 January 30, “China’s first Hualong One nuclear reactor begins operations”, in AP News‎^[2], archived from the original on 30 January 2021‎^[3]:

     The reactor, located in the city of Fuqing city in China’s southeastern Fujian province, was designed to have a 60-year lifespan, with its core equipment domestically produced.

• for life, lifelong