C1nounformalhealthsociety
US/ɪkˈspek.tən.si/
UK/ɪkˈspek.tən.si/
the hope or belief that something will happen, or how long a person is likely to live
In context
Life expectancy in the country has risen to almost eighty years.
An air of expectancy filled the hall as the curtain began to rise.
There was a sense of expectancy among the fans before the match.
Words that go with expectancy
noun + noun
- life expectancyLife expectancy is higher in cities with good hospitals.
adjective + noun
- average life expectancyThe average life expectancy has risen over the last century.
- healthy life expectancyHealthy life expectancy is shorter than total life expectancy.
verb + noun
- increase life expectancyClean water helped increase life expectancy in the village.
noun + preposition
- sense of expectancyThere was a sense of expectancy in the crowd.
- air of expectancyAn air of expectancy hung over the room.
Common mistakes
Incorrect:
expectancy of lifeCorrect: life expectancy